Stukaleitoffizier
 

Hello all,

I have several questions regarding Stukaleitoffiziere. To my understanding they had the same tasks as nowadays Forward Air Controllers and were recruited from experienced Stuka or Schlacht pilots. I found also Werner Hoffmann, the StaKa of 1./SG 1 who was assigned as Stukaleitoffizier to 9. SS-Panzerdivision "Hohenstauffen" in Februar 1945, as example to this practise.
Are there other Stuka or Schlacht pilots known to have served in this capacity?
How long was the service as Stukaleitoffizier before the pilots returned to their original units?
Did the Stukaleitoffiziere attend a specific course or received training to prepare for this job?

Thanks in advance for your input

Best

Michael

Re: Stukaleitoffizier
 

According to E.R. Hooton's The Luftwaffe; A Study in Air Power 1933-1945, page 70, these Luftwaffe liaison officers were first deployed as early as of the Battle of France in May 1940. "... This time there was no problem with air support, for Richthofen (VIII. Fliegerkorps) had supplied radio-equipped forward liaison officers in their own armoured command vehicles; they could bring in the Stukas to disrupt any strongpoints withing 45 to 75 minutes, and in the case of of the Hs 123A within 10 minutes...."