Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Can anyone please go through the steps and different routes that a typical Luftwaffe pilot and a Luftwaffe Aircrew member could take? I understand their was different routes but what confuses me is how some of them are ranked. Some pilots and even Observers were commissioned officers, and some pilots and aircrew were non-commissioned officers. How was this decided? Would they go to officer candidate school or NCO'S school after basic training in the Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung? Was it common for an aircrew member, or even a pilot to rise through the ranks from a flieger or gefreiter to a nco/commissioned officer? Would they go to their training specialization schools after nco school or officer candidate school? I do know training, especially late in the war, varied but I can't find much details on the training of Luftwaffe members and any information would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Hopefully this will shed some light. Here are some examples from the Wehrpasse & Soldbucher of aircrew.

Infantry soldier in 1940 who transferred across and eventually flew Fw-190 aircraft in SG-3 as a Feldwebel at the tail end of the war...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Oberfeldwebel Pilot who flew in coastal units (floatplanes)

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Leutnant in JG-52...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Stuka back-seater...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Bomber pilot (NCO)...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Hucks you're awesome. You're like the go-to for information regarding German forces. I appreciate you. Wehrpasses were exactly what I have been looking for as information about this but my only problem is I have a difficult time translating them. Like in your first image, you see the A , B, and C section. What do these mean?

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Bomber crewman (radio/gunner)...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Officer candidate (and eventual Oberleutnant) Pilot who transferred across from reconnaissance units to a fighter wing...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Transport pilot (NCO)...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

A glider pilot (NCO)...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

And finally, an Unteroffizier Observer in Bombers (Beobachter)...

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Hucks, does it say in these wehrpasses if any of them went to officer candidate school or nco candidate school?

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

The second image in post 9 shows his path through officer career schools in 1938-1939.

With the Soldbuch, Section B & D show his training units while Section C is his 'Field' units.

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Schreiber, Dr. Jürgen, “Flugzeugführerausbilding 1944”, Luftwaffen-Revue, 2/1990: 28-30.
“Fliegerische Grundausbildung und Jagdfliegerschulung (1935-1945)”, Luftwaffen-Revue, 4/1992: 82-87.
“Nochmals: Deutsche Pilotenausbildung bis 1945”, Luftwaffen-Revue, 1/1993: 4-6.

There are also several postwar studies done by A.I.12 (Post Hostilities Section) of the Air Ministry on this subject. These are at the BNA in London.

L.

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Dear Larry and hucks216,

Any way you could briefly summarize the different routes here?

Regards,
Richard

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

No Richard, but I have been told Barry Ketley can. His book, described below, has been said to provide the best available summarized coverage of these "routes" or "paths":

FLEDGLING EAGLES Luftwaffe Training Aircraft 1933-1945
Barry Ketley
Published by Classic Publications (2009-11-15)
ISBN 10: 1906537054 / ISBN 13: 9781906537050
Description:
Continuing the narrative excellence and impressive artwork that enthusiasts have come to expect from the series, this new volume is the perfect addition to the collection, and will be essential reading for aviation historians. Modellers will also find the detailed drawings and numerous side profiles invaluable in recreating the many aircraft of the Luftwaffe. A rare insight into the training all Luftwaffe aircrew and specialists had to pass through before participating in active service. All levels of the Luftwaffe training system before and during the war are covered including elementary and advanced training schools, fighter, bomber, dive-bomber and ground-attack, night fighter and heavy fighters, weapons, signals and formation and instructors schools. Many different aircraft are also included from dedicated training machines such as the Ar 68 and 131 biplanes to the Ar 96 and Fw 56 advanced trainers. Virtually all the front line types are examined including the famous Me109 and Do 17, as well as the twin seat Fw 190, Me 262, and even Me 163s.

The book is available in the used market for about $10.00.

L.

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

From recollection there is also a fair bit to be gleaned from the A.D.I.(K) Interrogation Reports.

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Dear All,

From geahanse's original question, I think he was looking for an overview. While the references to in depth studies are nice, and, if he really wanted to dig that deeply, then quite satisfying. However, that wasn't what I think he really wanted.

Regards,
Richard

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Even an overview would take hours and hours to put together for the Flugzeugfuehrer and Beobachter occupational specialties because the stages along the route changed with the extigencies' of war.

Here is another sources that is of more recent publication and lays it all out in comprehensive detail:


Carlsen, Sven and Michael Meyer.Die Flugzeugführer-Ausbildung der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945 [German Air Force Pilot Training 1935-1945].Zweibrücken: VDM Heinz Nickel Verlag:
Band I:Von der Grundausbildung bis zur Blindflugschule [From Elementary Training to Instrument Flight School] (1998).ISBN: 3-925480-29-3.Hb (laminated cover).496p.Profusely illus. (incl. color photos).Charts and tables.
Band II:Fliegerwaffenschulen und Ergänzungsgruppen [Aviation Combat Schools and Replacement Groups] (2000).ISBN: 3-925480-34-x.Hb (laminated cover).576p.Profusely illus. (incl. color photos).Tables.

Re: Luftwaffe Pilot/Aircrew training routes and stages
 

Hi All,
What was the lower age limit for pilot training in 1939/40? I have a Fähnrich Erich Vorbach, 1/JG51, 05.04.1922-14.11.1940, very young!
Joe