While in Spain he shot down 14 aircraft and was instrumental in developing tactics such as ‘the finger four’ and ‘the crossover turn.’
Shot down twice during the battle of France, he was beaten after being captured the second time.
Following the armistice, the soldier responsible, was hunted down by the Germans and sentenced to death. however after hearing of the verdict, Mölders appealed directly to Göring and had his life spared.
By the end of the Battle of Britain, despite being wounded in a confrontation with 41 Sqn and suffering influenza, Mölders had increased his total to 60, the first Luftwaffe pilot to do so.
Transferred to the Eastern Front, he surpassed Richthofen’s total of 80 in June 1941 and just a month later was the first fighter pilot in history to reach triple figures. But after being awarded the knights cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds, Mölders was forbidden to fly again in combat.
Promoted to Oberst and appointed Inspector General of Fighters, he became responsible for tactics and directing operations in the East.
Although consigned to hopping around in a Fleischer Storch, he frequently found excuses to drop in on his old unit, JG 51 to fly ‘training sorties,' where its widely believed he engaged in combat shooting down a further 30 aircraft.
While on a flight to attend the funeral of his superior Ernst Udet in November 1941, Werner Mölders was killed when the Heinkel 111 he was passengering in, crashed in a weather related accident.
Investigators speculated he would likely have survived, had he been wearing a seatbelt. Molders was 28.
Within hours of the crash, JG 51 in honour of his death, took his name. JG 74 also adopted it in the early 70's, but on the 61st anniversary of the bombing of Guernica in 1998, the Bundersparlament voted Condor Legion veterans could 'no longer be honoured' and his name was officially removed.
Despite spirited protests, the decision was confirmed in March 2005 by the Federal Minister of Defence Peter Struck,
