HANS HERMANN VON BUDDE German Flieger Leutnant and fighter pilot, first attached to Jasta 15 flying an Albatross D.III, later attached (chronologically) to Jasta 29 and Jasta 15 which he commanded from Nov. 13, 1917 to Mar. 14, 1918, after which he served as an inspector of aircraft. Von Budde is credited with at least one kill, recorded on Aug. 13, 1917, when he shot down an aircraft of the Escadrille Caudron C 219. An important lot containing a number of significant items, including a hand-wrought iron honor goblet, almost certainly awarded to von Budde for the aforementioned victory, 8 in. tall and 3 5/8 in. wide at the top, bearing an image of one eagle attacking another while in flight. The bottom of the goblet reads (in German): 'The Winner in Air Combat' in a Germanic font. The goblet rests on four round ball supports. Also present is: von Budde's solid back Prussian Pilot's Badge, unmarked, his Iron Cross, First Class with screw back and wide field-made disc with machine screw nuts; a war-date A.L.S. by von Budde on his personal letterhead, 12pp. 8vo., 'Jagdstaffel 15', Aug. 12-13, 1917 about his friend and Jasta 15 Commander, the famous Ace and Pour Le Merite winner, Heinrich Gontermann, not fully translated but describing his first 'kill'. Gontermann was killed in action and Von Budde took over command of Jasta 15 (his command is mentioned on the back of the framed photo). Another letter on his letterhead, 8pp. 8vo., same location, Sep. 20-21, 1917, also to Heinrich, speaking of religion and faith, both of which include small 2 x 2 in. photos of a pilot, presumably von Budde, and a superlative photograph of von Budde in uniform, 3 x 4.5 in. (sight), set into an ingeniously crafted cross-section of an airplane propeller used here to frame the photograph. A wonderful, very complete grouping.