Few fighter aces of WW II are as versatile as Werner Mölders. He was one of the most formidable fighter pilot, a true master in air-to-air combat. During the Spanish Civil War he flew a Bf 109 in the Condor Legion on Generalissimus Franco's side, scoring the highest number of victories achieved by any German pilot in that conflict, 14.

After his 20th victory in WW II, Mölders was the first fighter pilot to be awarded with the Knight's Cross, on May 29, 1940. Mölders was also a tactical inventor, and the fighter plane's "finger-four formation was invented by him in Spain.

He took great care of all his subordinates, and this earned him his nickname "Vati, "Daddy. Later he was appointed the first inspector of the Luftwaffe's Fighter Arm, and in this position he definitely earned a great respect from the fighter pilots.

Werner Mölders was shot down by a French fighter pilot on June 5, 1940 and spent the last weeks of the war with France in captivity. Liberated after the armistice, he was promoted to Major and took charge of JG 51. Although Mölders was injured in combat with the South African ace "Sailor Malan in late July 1940, he remained in first-line service during the entire Battle of Britain.

On September 20, 1940, he achieved his fortieth victory as the first pilot in WW II. Under his command, JG 51 was credited with a total of around five hundred victories during Battle of Britain.

Participating in the invasion of the USSR, Mölders became the first to reach 100 victories on July 15, 1941. Appointed to the first Inspector of the Luftwaffe's Fighter Air Arm, Mölders flew sorties on the Crimea in November 1941, achieving a number of "unofficial victories" that could be added to his official score 115, including 101 in World War II.

Mölders was killed en route to the state funeral of the Inspector of the Luftwaffe, Ernst Udet, on November 22, 1941. JG 51 adopted the honory name Mölders.

Note that this Messerschmitt was the former machine of the Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 3, Hauptmann Gordon Gollob and in early November it was transferred to III./JG 77. Although banned of flying combat mission Mölders took part in the fighting and score some additional kills over Crimea peninsula, Abschusse that was to be added to the JG 77 scoreboard, listed as Gruppe Abschuss.

Please note that during the last week I have been able to make three new profiles, all of them should be included in one of my upcoming Luftwaffe Fighters Profile Books Numbered 16 to 19.