WWII Luftwaffe Luftflotte 3 Photo Album with Bomber Unit and Luftwaffe Funeral Photos

The photograph album contains approximately 86 black and white photographs of various sizes. The album appears to contain images of one of the bomber units of Luftflotte 3, which  carried out bombing missions against England from France during the Battle of Britain and thereafter. The photographs show JU-88 Bombers and their personnel, both men and officers. One photograph depicts two NCOs of the unit standing in front of an automobile that is decorated with garlands and on which there is a large sign reading “Die Eiserne Dritte – 1,000 Mal Gegen England”, which translates as “The Iron Third- 1,000 Missions Against England”. Other photographs appear to show a commemorative ceremony when the unit had flown 2,000 missions against England, for the photographs depict a JU-88 Bomber under a large arch with the number 2,000 above the aircraft, and the arch flanks the bomber on each side with representations of England and France. One photograph appears to depict Luftwaffe Field Marshall Hugo Sperlle, the commander of Luftflotte 3, speaking with men of the unit. In the image Sperlle wears the white summer uniform of a Field Marshall, holding his interim Marshall’s baton behind his back. Along with the photographs of the men and planes of the bomber unit there are also a number of photographs that depict a Luftwaffe military funeral for several men. The photographs show the funeral procession and coffins draped with the war flag as well as one photograph of a military cemetery. Interestingly, several of the photographs clearly show that the officer presiding at the funeral is a German Army Chaplain. Hermann Goering had ordered that the Luftwaffe would have no chaplains, in keeping with National Socialist attitudes. However, these photographs clearly show that, at this funeral, the Luftwaffe unit had secured the service of an army chaplain. The chaplain wears the uniform of a German Army officer, but without any shoulder boards, as was the regulation for chaplains. Additionally, it can be clearly seen that around his neck the chaplain wears the regulation Christian cross on a chain. The album has some missing photographs but it is in overall very good condition. The cover of the album is heavy card stock, with the front cover bearing the design of  a small boat on the water.