Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Second World War German 1940 ‘Battle of Britain’ Iron Cross group of four awarded to Luftwaffe Ju.88 Radio Operator - Air Gunner Sergeant L. Ottmann, who during the course of the Second World War flew a total of 135 combat missions, including the great raid on Coventry (Moonlight Serenade), and further 22 raids on London; transferring to the Eastern Front, he then took part in Operation Barbarossa

Germany, Third Reich, Iron Cross 1939 (2), First Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, retaining pin stamped ‘113’; Second Class breast badge, silver with iron centre, unmarked; War Merit Cross 1939, Second Class, with swords, bronze; Winter War Medal 1941-42, zinc, nearly extremely fine (4) £600-£800

Leonhard Ottman began his aircrew training with a flight in a Junkers JU 52 transport aircraft on 13 June 1939. He went on to fly in the Dornier Do17, Heinkel HE111, Junkers JU88 and other similar size aircraft, qualifying as an aircraft radio operator. On completion of his training, he was posted to Kampfgeschwader (Totenkopf Geschwader) Stab II/KG54 as a radio operator on Junkers JU88 twin engine multi-role light bombers. He became part of the regular crew of Lieutenant Mally, with who he remained until his last flight in August 1944. He was to go on to complete 421 flights, from bases in Germany, France, Poland and Italy. Of these flights, 135 were classed as combat missions.

Ottman’s war began with his first posting - to KG54 at St. Andre, in Southern France (IV. Fliegerkorps) where he began his flying duties on 8 August 1940. His first combat mission came on 29 August with a feint attack against the English coast. This was during the height of the ‘Battle of Britain’ and no doubt intended to draw the RAF fighters away from their airfields so they could be attacked by other Luftwaffe units. KG54 then began to play its part in the period known as ‘The Blitz’, when English and Welsh cities (especially London) and ports were targeted. Ottmann’s 42 combat missions from St. Andre included 17 raids on London, over the period 23 September to 29 November, and Operation Mondscheinserenade Korn (Moonlight Serenade Corn) on Coventry on 15 November 1940, which was at the time the largest and most devastating aerial attack to date anywhere, when the city was attacked by 449 bombers from Luftflote II and III which dropped 503 tonnes of mixed bombs. Many factories destroyed, and the medieval heart of the city devastated. The night’s bombing cost the city 554 killed, and 865 seriously injured.

On 14 April 1941, Kampfgeschwader 54 moved to Bretigny, still in France (remaining part of IV. Fliegerkorps), from where Ottmann took part in a further 17 combat missions, mainly against English cities and airfields, including London (five times), Plymouth (twice), Liverpool (three times), and Exeter (three times).

Ottmann’s final sortie to England took place on 20 May 1941, when his aircraft attacked the port of Plymouth: ‘We attacked the target from 150 metres and dropped our bombs directly onto the port but because of the strong anti-aircraft fire it was not possible to assess the effects of the bombing. By low flying we were able to get away from the massive artillery fire.’

On 17 June 1941, Kampfgeschwader 54 moved to Swidnik, near Lublin, in Poland; now with V. Fliegerkorps. There they took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia, which began on 22 June 1941. Over the next month Ottmann took part in 35 Attacks made against targets in Eastern Poland and Russia, including the airfield at Schepatoka in Russia on 1 July 1941: ‘Our mission was to dive bomb in group formation the airfield in Schepatoka in Russia. We proceeded in groups but shortly before the target our group broke up owing to heavy weather and was blasted by heavy resistance. After that we attacked the airfield individually. We flew across the field at low level and just in front of the hangars the pilot pulled up the plane and released our bombs. Shortly after we heard a loud noise in the plane. We had been badly hit by both the flak and by the pieces of bombed hangar thrown up high into the air. Result: By means of a direct hit we were able to completely destroy the hangar including its foundation wall.’

Two day later, on 3 July Ottman and his crew ‘Were ordered to attack the railway line at Konotop with splinter bombs equipped with Shockwave devices. The remaining bombs were meant for the trains. We carried 1 splinter bomb, and 35 D250. We arrived at low level attacking the designated railway line, and after finding a suitable spot, we dropped the splinter bomb which landed directly between the railway tracks. A bit further on we used the remaining bombs to attack a fuel train in a siding. The bombs dropped a bit to the right of the fuel train so that it only got hit by shrapnel. We then made several further attacks on the train using the other weapons on board until the petrol laden train burst into flames. After crash landing (back at base) we established that the ground fire had shot right through the fuselage steering gear.’

Further attacks on rail installations followed, on 5, 11, and 15 July: ‘We were ordered to dive bomb the retreating columns to the east of Berditschof with 45 x D250. We approached from a height of 2000 - 2500 metres and discovered a moving train loaded with war materials, so we dive bombed it. We released our bombs at 400 - 500 metres and all 4 bombs landed directly on target with the result that the transport train was immediately thrown up into the air after the attack and was ablaze... Six days later we were given the mission to attack the railway station at Kasatin using 25. C 250 and 25 D 250. Just before reaching the target we encountered very heavy flak but nevertheless we attacked and dive bombed the station releasing our bombs at 400 metres. After that we attacked the flak emplacement using on board weapons and silenced it. Result: direct hit on the station causing extensive fires. During this raid our plane received 14 hits, 3 of which went through the cabin area... On 15 July 1941 we were ordered to attack the railway station in Korsum, using 45. C. 250. We dive bombed, releasing our bombs at 600 metres and the bombs hit the target. As we were returning, we spotted a Russian fighter below and ahead of us. We attacked the fighter from behind and the observer fired a round of M.A. Trommel (Trommel + drum). We avoided the fighter by banking left over him and facilitating the rear gunner letting off a full round. I saw the pilot being hit and falling forward causing the plane to crash to the ground in flames. During this raid we encountered heavy flak defences.’

It seems that KG54 was shortly after rotated back to Germany, as his next flights were all in a non-combat role, and flown from bases in Germany. Possibly they were refitting or training, as he flew with a variety of pilots, his usual one being Lieutenant Mally. In December 1941, the crew were posted to Italy as part of Kampfgruppe 806, which was re-designated Stab III/KG54 on 1 September 1942. Moving then onto Sicily, he flew in support of the Afrika Corps in Tunisia from November 1942, and such operations continued during the early months of 1943, culminating with a raid on a Royal Navy convoy on 1 May 1943: ‘We were instructed to locate a British convoy which had been sighted at midday in the Mediterranean. After a clear reconnaissance flight we discovered the enemy convoy near the coast of Bengasi, consisting of 25 - 30 large and medium ships. The convoy was well guarded by combat vessels as well as air defence weapons. At low level we remained with the convoy for 3 - 4 hours to maintain contact with the enemy ships, sending repeated signals to our combat groups regarding its position. The convoy was attacked at daybreak with great success.’

In October 1943 III/KG54 moved back to Germany, being posted at several different airfields. By 19 March 1944 they were based at Marx, and Ottmann was involved in another 2 attacks against England. His 135th and final operational sortie was a raid on Bristol on 27 March 1944, and his last logbook entries are dated 11 April 1944, with his final one four months later, on 4 August. About this time KG54 began converting to the Me262 single seat jet fighter in September, so not being a pilot, perhaps he had become a radio instructor. Ottmann is known to have survived the war, having contributed to the following history of KG54.’

Sold with the following related documents:
The recipient’s original award certificates for Iron Cross Second Class dated 30 September 1940; Iron Cross First Class dated 28 October 1940 (issued from Goring’s H.Q.); Luftwaffe Flying Clasp for Combat Bomber and Operational Flying Clasp in Gold, (for 120 combat missions) dated 10 July 1941; together with a photographic image of the recipient with his Ju.88 crew in winter camouflage; a standard issue Christmas card from Adolf Hitler; complete photocopies of the recipient’s Flugbuch (Flying) and Liesttungbuch (Achievement) Books (the originals of both books are held in the Walter Weiss Collection in Germany); and copied research, including details of all 135 combat missions.