III Period Postcard With Photo of Luftwaffe Ace Hauptmann Eckerle - With Original Autograph! Never circulated. Franz Eckerle (24 April 1912 – 14 February 1942) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and aerobatics pilot. As a fighter ace during World War II, he was credited with 59 aerial victories, four over the Western Allies and 55 on the Eastern Front. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.Born in Baden-Baden, Eckerle grew up in the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Already trained as a pilot, he joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1935. Following further training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 135. In 1938 and 1939, Eckerle competed in the German Aeronautical Nationals. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving with Jagdgeschwader 76 and claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 during the Battle of France. Following further aerial victories claimed during the Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 September 1941. In January 1942, Eckerle was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54. Following aerial combat on 14 February 1942, he went missing in action, presumed killed in action, near Schlüsselburg. Posthumously, Eckerle was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 59 aerial victories.**** Important**** Shipping from our office in Europe.