Günther Rall - interview

This article was written by Colin Heaton and originally appeared in the September 1996 issue of World War II magazine.

Günther Rall

"From the time the Luftwaffe went to war on September 1, 1939, its fighter pilots immediately began to make their presence known. Slashing through the skies and inflicting enormous casualties, they amassed previously unimaginable scores of aerial victories. Very few of the great pilots survived the war, yet the fact that Germany’s three leading aces did is testimony to their skill, determination and luck.

Günther Rall served on the Eastern and Western fronts, rising to the rank of major and commanding fighter groups and entire squadrons. He finished World War II as the third-highest-scoring fighter ace of all time with 275 aerial victories. His final assignment was in the defense of the Reich itself, and his capture by the Americans was the beginning of a second career for him.

Continuing to rise in the Bundesluftwaffe (the new Luftwaffe), he trained in the United States and later commanded German jet fighter units in the 1960s. He is still good friends with many of his old Luftwaffe comrades, and he was reunited with many for the 80th birthday celebration for General Johannes Steinhoff on September 15, 1993, shortly before Steinhoff’s death.

After retiring from the new German Air Force, General Rall began working in an advisory capacity for several well-known companies. Today he enjoys retirement, his family and his many grandchildren, and enjoys corresponding with historians.

World War II: General, please tell us about your background.

Rall: I was born on March 10, 1918, in Gaggenau, which is a small village in the Black Forest. My father was a merchant, and when I was born he was on operations during World War I. He first saw me when he came back.

Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain - the father of jet engine

Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain

Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain (14 December 1911 – 13 March 1998) was a German physicist, and designer of the first operational jet engine.[1] His first design ran in March 1937, and it was one of his engines that powered the world's first flyable all-jet aircraft, the prototype of the Heinkel He 178 (He 178 V1) in late August 1939. In spite of these early successes, other German designs quickly eclipsed von Ohain's, and none of his engine designs entered widespread production or operational use. Von Ohain started to independently develop his first turbojet engine designs during the same period that Frank Whittle was working on his own similar designs in Britain, their turbojet designs are said by some to be an example of simultaneous invention.

Interview with Adolf Galland -1994.

"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.

Adolf Galland

Adolf Galland during the Spanish
Civil War, in which he flew
Heinkel He-51 biplanes,
more often on strafing missions
 than in aerial combat.

This article was written by Colin D. Heaton and originally appeared in the January 1997 issue of World War II (taken from HistoryNet).

"When historians speak of pilots and the history of air combat, certain names invariably come up sooner or later–Manfred von Richthofen, Edward Mannock, René Fonck, Erich Hartmann, Alexander Pokryshkin, Johnny Johnson, Dick Bong… and Adolf Galland. Galland was the youngest general grade officer of either side in World War II, and at age 29 he was more competent in aerial combat, strategy and tactics than many of the experts nearly twice his age. Galland fought a hard battle against his superiors on the ground, which made the danger in the air inviting, almost welcome. Adolf Hitler and Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Göring, who were always trying to find fault and place the blame on others for their own failures, began pointing fingers at the fighter pilots. Was it not they who failed to stop the death and destruction delivered by Allied bombers? Was it not the fighter pilots who demanded more of the resources and new technology, yet produced the least results? Göring betrayed his pilots and publicly denounced them as cowards, provoking the Fighters’ Revolt in January 1945.

Story of Captain "Winkle" Brown strongly linked to history of Luftwaffe

Story of Captain "Winkle" Brown

B-17 captured by Luftwaffe

Allied planes captured and used by the Luftwaffe

Hawker Typhoon

Hurricane

Set of pictures of Blohm und Voss Bv222 Viking and Junkers Ju188

Set of pictures of Blohm und Voss Bv222 Viking: LINK

Set of pitures of Junkers Ju188:  LINK

Set of pictures of Messerschmitt 209 and 309

Messerschmitt 209: LINK

 Messerschmitt 309: LINK

Junkers Ju52 "Tante Ju" - set of documents. Part 2

Ju 52 Teil 4 Steuerwerk: LINK

Junkers Ju52 "Tante Ju" - set of documents. Part 1

Avion Junkers Ju 52: LINK

Junkers Ju 88 A-1 Betriebsanleitung - operating manual

Junkers Ju 88 A-1 Betriebsanleitung: LINK

Flugzeug-Handbucch Junkers Ju88 S-1

Flugzeug-Handbucch Junkers Ju88 S-1: LINK

The man, who said: "I'm sorry." - Willy Schludecker

Willi Schludecker

On April 25 and 27, 1942, Willi Schludecker was just a 21 year old when took a part of three raids on Bath. His Dornier Do217E  unloaded nearly 4,000 kg of bombs on the city of Bath. The three night-time Luftwaffe raids have killed nearly 400 people and destroyed more than 19,000 buildings in the Georgian city of Bath, which had a population of 68,000 at the time.. Churchill had been rumored to be staying at the Abbey Hotel in Bath, but Luftwaffe bombs didn't hit hotel.
Willi Schludecker flew more than 120 bombing and mine-laying missions over England, Russia and the Balkans. The average life span of a German pilot at the time was seven sorties. He won two Iron Crosses and is a genuine war hero - just on the wrong side.

Luftwaffe photograph reveals garden secrets

"A World War II reconnaissance photograph taken by the Luftwaffe has revealed what might have been the original Tudor design for a National Trust garden in Northamptonshire.
The photograph of Lyveden New Bield, part of a series now held at the United States National Archive at Maryland in Baltimore, was taken in 1944 and shows an arrangement of 10 huge concentric circles within the garden, measuring approximately 120 metres across.
Lyveden's property manager Mark Bradshaw said it was probably one of the most important garden discoveries of recent times.
' We're still not clear exactly what these circles represent, but it's amazing that the outline can be clearly made out in an aerial photograph taken almost 350 years after the garden was created, ' he said."

CLICK THE LINK AND WATCH THE FILM ON BBC website

Set of pictures with Luftwaffe warbirds and stuff.

Messerschmitt Me 110s fly over the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, 1940

Kurt Welter - Jet Expert

Text taken form War History Online

Kurt Welter (25 February 1916 – 7 March 1949) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and the most successful Jet Expert of World War II.  A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He claimed a total of 63 aerial victories—that is, 63 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—achieved in only 93 combat missions. He recorded 56 victories at night, including 33 Mosquitos,  and scored more aerial victories from a jet fighter aircraft than anyone else in World War II and potentially in aviation history.

Welter was born in Cologne-Lindenthal (Köln-Lindenthal) on 25 February 1916. He joined the military service of the Luftwaffein 1934 and was trained as a pilot. He showed a strong natural ability as a pilot and was subsequently selected for flight instructor training and served many years as a flight instructor. In 1943 Welter transferred to an operational night fighter unit flying contemporary piston engine fighter aircraft. On 18 October 1944, after 40 combat missions, Welter was awarded theKnight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). In early 1945, Welter transferred to an experimental jet night fighter unit flying the Messerschmitt Me 262. On 11 March 1945 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) for 48 aerial victories. Welter survived the war and was killed in an accident at a railroad crossing on 7 March 1949.

Luftwaffe - different kind of army in reality of Third Reich.

So many times, the size of people testified their skill of finding in fact, despite the experience of the past. War - is a terrifying experience for all side of conflict. Of course, history and facts create the pictures "bad guys and good guys", only people free from the experiences of the event, try to get the best lessons and knowledge from of past events.

Adolfo Galland - Luftwaffe Ace
and iconic character of history
of the Luftwaffe

"Because of people like Skalski, we lost the Battle of Britain, but thanks to such as he disappeared bleak vision of Nazism, which threatened to the world" Adolf Galland

Stanislaw Skalski - polish Ace fighter
and icon of  history of polish Air Force.

Stanislaw Skalski

Some kind of people is just "born to fly" and all stuff around is less important then everything. History in simply way, determines their fate. I don't intend here "bleach" in any way criminal achievements of the people of the Nazi regime, but in an objective way to think about the attitudes of individual people.

Some facts and some legends are formed inexplicable bond between people committed flying in the sky.
Perfectly captures this amazing bond, the story of the funeral of the German ace from WWI Max Immelmann. Some people have told stories about British aircraft, which flew over the funeral and dropped flowers in the name of respect and admiration for the German pilot. Amazing.

Battle of Britain Aces Adolf Galland in the cockpit, Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader. Fl Lt Pete Thorn from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight nearest on the ground and Peter Rushen Ground Crew behind him. The venue the 1978 Bex air show in Switzerland and the Spitfire a Mk V AB910

Two RAF airmen are buried with full military honors by occupying German soldiers, Channel Islands, 1943

Article taken from a site: Real historical photo... 

"Full military honors were granted by the Luftwaffe at the funerals of R.A.F Sergeants Butlin and Holden who were shot down over Jersey, Channel Islands. It is thought this was to try and pacify the local population. The Luftwaffe behaved much differently than the SS or Wehrmacht. Much more chivalry.

The Butcher Birds in Turkish service.

In almost all respects, the Turkish planes were Luftwaffe-standard.

The only country, which after the Second World War  had a still in military service full squdron of the original - ordered from the RLM - butcher birds was Turkey. Focke-Wulfs  version A-3s were start produced in August/September 1942 and continued to June 1943. Other sources said about time between October 1942 - March 1943. During this period RLM produced and sent around 70 butchers.  These aircraft were basically Fw 190 A-3s, with BMW 801 D-2 engines and FuG VIIa radios and an armament fit of four MG 17s, with the option of installing two MG-FF/M cannon in the outer wing positions Poduction keep 3 different plants. In the native plants of Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG, Arado Flugzeugwerke and AGO Flugzeugwerke.

A Luftwaffe pilot in Africa, 1941

"The Luftwaffe squadron (wing) that fought during Northern Africa campaign was Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27)..." : LINK

Rare Historical Photos And the story behind them…

A member of the Luftwaffe exchanges
gifts with a native in North Africa, 1941.

Hugo Sperrle, Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe, 1940

Very interesting website, full of great stuff: Rare Historical Photos And the story behind them…

 Hugo Sperrle, Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe, 1940: LINK

The hakenkreuz in the rays of the rising sun - SUPPLEMENT

A few more pictures of German aircraft in the service of the Imperial Japanese Air Force

Messerschmitt Me210

Crashed Luftwaffe planes - cont

A crashed Heinkel He IIIP, 1G+NT, of III/KG27, shot down by Blue Section of No. 92 Squadron RAF at 6 pm on 14 August 1940, lying by the side of the road at Charterhouse, Somerset. Note the machine gun projecting from the starboard side of the fuselage as protection from beam attacks

A set of pictures of crashed Luftwaffe planes during the Battle of Britain

Troops guard the wreck of Heinkel He 111P (W.Nr 1582: G1+FR)
 of 7./KG 55, which was shot down during an attack on Great
Western Aerodrome (now Heathrow)
 and crash-landed at High Salvington near Worthing, 16 August 1940

"During the Battle of Britain it is estimated that the Royal Air Force shot down 1887 German planes. Some planes crashed nose first into the ground and were completely obliterated but other pilots manged to crash land and remained relatively intact.

These planes were prized trophies for propaganda reasons but also to learn more about the German planes and it’s technology. Last but not least, the remains were recycled back into new planes for the RAF, the crashed planes were full of metals that Britain desperately needed to survive.
The crashed planes were photographed and cataloged and then removed, here are 22 of the best images we could find!"

Wreck Dive: SS Kreta Wreck (1943) – Luftwaffe Night Fighter Direction ship

Wreck Dive: SS Kreta Wreck (1943) – Luftwaffe Night Fighter Direction ship

 

Luftwaffe Aircraft Shot Down In 1943 Recovered In Leros

Luftwaffe Aircraft Shot Down In 1943 Recovered In Leros

The Horten 229 V3 “Flying Wing” - 48 images

The Horten 229 V3 “Flying Wing” 48 images

Set of few photos of legend - Messerschmitt Bf109

A German propaganda picture showing a British truck refuelling a BF 109 in the Channel Islands

Horten Ho229 - a brief outline of the story. Part 1. Compiled by Cesar Winklemann

A Ho IX under construction. This document depicts the wood
construction of this flying wing. (The clamps are aligned on the left).
The jet engines are fictitious.

Horten logo

Almost unknown today, all wing twin-jet Go 229 was probably the most startling and unconventional warplane built during the WWII. It stemmed from the belief of the brothers Walter and Reimar Horten that a flying wing was the most efficient form of the heavier-than-air flying machines.They set out to prove this with a series of gliders, beginning with the Horten O in 1931. From 1936 Hortens brothers were officers in the Luftwaffe, but continued their work, wich in 1942 lead to studies for a flying-wing jet fighter.

A few words in defense of the German Moskito. Focke-Wulf Ta154 Moskito

de Havilland Mosquito DH.98

Some time ago, Kris Hendrix was "killed" me  in a challenge to the arguments in the dispute comparing German Moskito  vs  de Havilland Mosquito. In reference to this conversation, I would like to specify in the text that some information on the support of my claims.

Focke-Wulf Ta154 Moskito

The hakenkreuz in the rays of the rising sun.

Below you can read a list of Luftwaffe planes exported to Japan between 1937 to 1943 on the basis of the agreement on military cooperation III Reich and the Empire of Japan.

Gallery - NEW UPDATE

New set of pictures: UPDATE

German propaganda film excerpt: He-111 bomber is attacked by British P-36 Mohawk...HD

UPDATE: Messerschmitt Bf109 F

UPDATE Messerchmitt Bf109 F : LINK

Set of the picture and drawings of Arado Ar234 Blitz

Photo Gallery

Drawings

Arado Ar234. The Blitz - Operational history.Part 4

Text found in the internet.

"This document with excerpts from several books has been created under ‘fair use’ copyright as background information for trips to Alt Lönnewitz and Rheine that we made in 2015 as part of a study project. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders named in the references. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owners.

Arado 234 B-2 being rolled out of the hangar at Rheine airfield, November 1944

Reconnaissance Operations

The first real operational sorties with the Ar 234 were undertaken by the Ar 234 V5 and V7, which were delivered early in July 1944 to a unit at Juvincourt near Rheims. The unit became operational on 20th July 1944, comprising two pilots, eighteen technicians, two special airframe mechanics (from Arado), two engine mechanics (from Junkers Jumo) and two radio operators, plus a small amount of ground handling equipment. Due to constant bombing of the home airfield, difficulties associated with take-off and landing were greatly increased. A special grass strip was prepared for landing because it was found that the sids were ripped off in an attempt was made to land on the torn-up concrete runway. The dolly undercarriage functioned well, and only on one occasion did it fail to release.

Arado Ar234. The Blitz - other projects. Part 3.

Text found in the internet.
"This document with excerpts from several books has been created under ‘fair use’ copyright as background information for trips to Alt Lönnewitz and Rheine that we made in 2015 as part of a study project. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders named in the references. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owners."

In mid-December 1943 at the Arado facilities work began on a flying wing project. Straight wings retained their good aerodynamic characteristics only at subsonic speeds. Near-supersonic speeds a new approach to wing geometry. A discussion took place with the RLM in early 1944, and Arado was asked to compile design studies for a high speed long range jet powered bomber. It was realized that the project could best be fulfilled by using a flying wing design with a laminar high speed profile. Five variants of the wing were built, each differing in its sweep. The most advanced work on this project was carried out at Dedelsdorf airbase, where the Ar 234 V16 was being rebuilt as part of this research. The aircraft was destroyed in mid-April 1945 by advancing British troops as they captured the airfield.

The missing Luftwaffe warbird

The missing Luftwaffe fighter

At the same time as Messerschmitt was developing the Bf109, rival firm Heinkel were also putting forward a new all-metal monoplane fighter, the He112. Early prototypes of each were pretty evenly matched in terms of speed and rate of climb and both the Me109E, as Messerschmitt’s fighter became, and the He112E had speeds of more than 350mph.

The latter could climb to 20,000 feet in 10 minutes. More importantly, it had a very sturdy inwardly-retracting undercarriage that made it easy to land for newly trained pilots, and a phenomenal range of some 715 miles, which was better even than the twin-engine Messerschmitt 110.

The He112 would have been the ideal partner to the Me109 – and its range was an advantage in the battle of Britain and elsewhere. However, while Willy Messerchmitt was a good party man and Göring had a special (and irrational) fondness for the Me110,  Heinkel had a whiff of Jewish blood – so the Heinkel fighter was dropped.

Arado Ar234.The Development of the Blitz - versions B and C. Part 2.

Text found in the internet.

"This document with excerpts from several books has been created under ‘fair use’ copyright as background information for trips to Alt Lönnewitz and Rheine that we made in 2015 as part of a study project. All copyrights remain with the copyright holders named in the references. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owners."

Arado 234B

The first prototype of the Ar 234B variant (Ar 234 V9), that had been ordered on 9th February 1943, was completed in early March 1944. The expected bomb payload was maximum 1,500 kg. Additional rocket boosters, mounted under wings, were necessary for a loaded take-off. Alternatively, two auxiliary 300-leter drop tanks could be carried under the engine nacelles. The first flight of the Ar 234 V9, from Brandenburg to Alt Lönnewitz by captain Janssen, took place on 12th March 1944. During the next two test flights, conducted on 15th March 1944, Janssen experienced problems retracting the flaps after take-off. This issue was partially solved by re-building the flap retraction mechanism. On 21th March 1944, Siegfried Knemeyer carried out a 17-minute test flight of the Ar 234 V9. In the period between 17th - 20th April 1944 at Alt Lönnewitz, tests were conducted with bomb armament. On 29th April 1944, Knemeyer performed a 30-minute demonstration flight over Oranienburg airbase for the Wehrmacht and some RLM officials.

Arado 234 V9

Arado 234 V9

Set of drawings: Focke-Wulf Fw 152

Focke-Wulf Fw152