Table of Contents
What did Luftwaffe pilots think of the Spitfire?
After flying high over Britain in the Spitfire, Broch heaped praise on his former adversary’s formidable fighter plane: “The Spitfire was greatly respected. With these machines you have a feeling of being free, and being able to do what you want.”
When did the Germans lose air superiority on the eastern front?
So, it appears that the “significant date” was April-May 1944. According to Dr. Richard R. Muller in his December 2003 article in Air and Space Power entitled Losing Air Superiority: A Case Study from World War II, he argues that the Germans had definitively lost air superiority over Europe in fall of 1944.
Which pilot shot down the most planes in ww2?
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Are there any Luftwaffe pilots still alive?
The surviving trio are Flight Lieutenant William Clark, 100, Wing Commander Paul Farnes, 101, and Flying Officer John Hemingway, 100.
Why did the Luftwaffe lose?
By the end of 1941 the Luftwaffe had been reduced to just 30–40\% of their original strength. The winter weather and the snow caused damage to aircraft, as engines seized and the oil and fuel froze inside the tanks. The Luftwaffe was losing as many aircraft damaged than in combat.
Why did the Luftwaffe lose air superiority?
German aircraft production finally peaked in September 1944 at just over 3,700, despite months of Allied air attacks. (4) The quest for offensive power did its part to make the loss of air superiority permanent. The Luftwaffe’s operational response to the crisis was no less energetic.
How many Luftwaffe pilots died in WW2?
Both sides suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Britain – 544 pilots, which was about one in six, from RAF Fighter Command were killed and 2,500 Luftwaffe airmen lost their lives.
Did the Luftwaffe have secret squadrons in WW2?
The Luftwaffe’s Secret Squadrons During World War II. Along with several German planes abandoned by the Nazis, U.S. First Army troops found this P-47 with German markings at an airfield near Goettingen, Germany. The history of the German Luftwaffe in World War II has been examined by scores of authors and eyewitnesses.
How many planes did the Luftwaffe shoot down in WWII?
The Luftwaffe had 103 pilots who shot down over 100 airplanes. Note that a fighter ace needs to shoot down five or more enemy aircraft to earn his title.
Why did Japanese and German pilots have better equipment than American pilots?
The Japanese and German pilots had no such luxury. Both systems in place in the 1930s aimed at producing a few excellent pilots. By contrast Allied thinking was to produce a lot of very good pilots and give them very good or excellent equipment. By rate of attrition the latter theory would triumph as more men were fed into the training systems.
How did Heinrich Rowehl help the Luftwaffe?
From 1930 to 1934, Rowehl flew solo reconnaissance flights as a civilian. A short time later, he put together a squadron of airmen that was given an official military designation. His efforts led to the creation of a unit operating for the Luftwaffe’s 5th Branch (air intelligence).