Otto Bernert was CO of Jasta Boelke (Jasta 2)
9 Jun 1917 - 18 Aug 1917

 This mug was part of some war booty brought home by a GI during WWII.
 It sat on this GI's family mantle from 1945 until June 2003!
It was taken from a building housing aviation artifacts during the war.
We have a letter of provenance from the family which will be given to the lucky owner

 This mug was made out of an artillery shell casing and was probably made on site or
in a local town where the squadron was stationed. The engraving is fairly crude and simplistic
The mug was probably made by a local metal worker and engraved by a person who had some
knowledge of engraving. This is why we use the term "Field Made"
 'Field Made' items were not uncommon at all within a squadron

This mug was presented to Otto Bernert on his retirement from Jasta 2.
 Bernert suffered severe injuries sustained in combat and was unable to fly.
 Bernert went on to work desk duty with the Luftwaffe Inspectors Office in Sept 1918
This mug was presented to him as a going away gift from his Squadron Jasta 2
Below is a picture of Bernert (notice his cane) and the rest of Jasta 2
 Bernert sits in center of the photo
Fantastic piece of history

this photo does not come with the mug and is reference only

The son of a Burghermeister, Otto Bernert was in the infantry when the war began. Wounded on several occasions, he eventually transferred to the Fliegertruppe as an observer. The following year, despite the bayonet wound that rendered his left arm useless, Bernert became a pilot. On 24 April 1917, he set a record by shooting down five British aircraft in less than 30 minutes. In June, Bernert became commander of Jasta 2 (Jasta Boelcke) but two months later, he was wounded again and his days as a fighting pilot came to an end.  Being unfit for flying duty he left Jasta Boelke on August 28, 1917 and worked for the Inspector of the Flying Corps. In November he was promoted to Oberleutnant. Bernert died from influenza the following year.
Country: Germany
Rank: Oberleutnant
Units: Feldflieger Abteilung 27, 71
Kek Vaux
Jasta 2, 4, 6
Victories: 27
Born: 06 March 1893
Place of Birth: Ratibor, Upper Silesia
Died: 18 October 1918
Place of Death: Ratibor, Upper Silesia

detailed list of his victories here

Weight 2lb 7oz
6" Tall
3" Wide

A fantastic one of a kind piece of history!

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