MF11 Nuremberg Raid RAF cover signed Luftwaffe ace ZORNER KC

MF11 RAF cover produced to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Raid 30/31 March 1944. The cover artwork by Tony Theobald shows the Halifax of Pilot Officer Cyril Barton being attacked by a Junkers Ju88G Night Fighter. Barton of No 578 Squadron was the only Halifax pilot to be awarded a VC. The cover bears 1st class commemorative stamp cancelled with the Bomber Command Memorial postmark dated 2 October 2015. The covers has been signed in 2004 but no stamp or postmark applied - a stamp was applied in 2009 and not cancelled until now.

 

The cover is hand signed by Major Paul Zorner Luftwaffe Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Holder who flew as a Night Fighter pilot credited with 59 victories and flew with NJG 2,3,5 and 100. Official special, numbered and certified on reverse.

Official special, numbered and certified on reverse.. 

Zorner joined the Luftwaffe in October 1938.  In March 1941 he became a Leutnant in 4. KGr.z.b.V.104 as a transport pilot and completed 162 missions in the Mediterranean theatre.  On the 1 October 1941 he volunteered for pilot training as a Night Fighter.  On 1 July 1942 he joined 8./NJG.2 as an Oberleutenant and flew his first night interception mission on the 17 August 1942.  On the 17/18 January 1943 he scored his first night victory and by March he had scored 6 victories and promoted Staffelkapitan of 1./NJG.3.  On 25/26 July he was forced to bale out due to an engine fire.  He achieved his 20th victory on 2/3 January 1944. On 25 April he was appointed to command III./NJG.5 with a score of 43.  He was awarded the Knight’s Cross with 48 victories, followed by Oak Leaves with 58 victories and on 22 October 1944 he became commander of II./NJG.100.  On the 5/6 March 1945 he scored his last victory, on 10 May 1945 he and the remainder of his group surrendered to US troops, but he was handed over to the Russian Army on the 17 May and not released until 30 December 1949.
59 night victories.  Total of 272 missions, 110 flying Night Fighters.

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