ROBERT RITTER VON GREIM
(1892 - 1945) German Field Marshal and last head of the Luftwaffe, a Knights Cross winner involved in the invasion of Poland, the Battle for Norway, the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa. His final words before taking cyanide were: "I am the head of the Luftwaffe, but I have no Luftwaffe". Fine association typed D.S. on German Aviation Co. Ltd. letterhead, 2pp. 4to. Wurzburg, Mar. 22, 1928 harshly criticizing trainee pilot Carl Vieck - - who would later become a superb military aviator and would command Jagdfliegerfhrer Luftflotte 2. In part: "...He did not set course immediately for Wurzburg...allegedly to get in flying hours and gain experience...Herr Vieck declared that he had to make a forced landing owing to an engine defect...[he] did not switch off the engine, but called two workmen...and asked for information on where he was...If Herr Vieck had had an engine failure...he would have felt obliged...to leave the aircraft...and to investigate and cure the engine trouble...a case of inexcusable negligence...I am compelled to declare him deficient...in the maturity of character and in the reliability which one has to expect from a pilot...". Marginal tears and wear, two files holes, but no loss of text and boldly signed. With translation.