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Originally Posted by Red Baroness
I'm looking for some information on Walter "Gulle" Oesau, specifically his personality and his life outside the Luftwaffe - family, siblings, wife, children.
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Regarding Oesau's personality, the best resource is Paul Skawran's book, "Ikaros: Persönlichkeit und Wesen des deutschen Jagdfliegers im Zweiten Weltkrieg".
During the war, Skawran interviewed and spent time with many of the pilots he describes in the book. He divides them up into six broad categories, some of which have sub-categories. Oesau features prominently in the book because he epitomizes the "kraftvolle Kämpfer" (i.e. the vibrant/vigorous/powerful fighter) type.
In a nutshell, Oesau was physically strong, energetic, outspoken, aggressive, confident and proud, but also very protective and fatherly toward his wingmen. He was a master of his machine, sure and unhurried in his movements, fearless and nerveless, and he ate and slept well. It appears that he didn't have much regard for paperwork and formality, but he aspired to "Herrentum" (in Oesau's case, this meant a dedication to honor, duty, responsibility, discipline and comradeship.) No mention of his personal life or family, unfortunately.
Oesau apparently wrote an autobiography, but it was never published (Skawran lists it in his bibliography.)
The only other significant book on Oesau that I'm aware of is a wartime publication named "Oesau". It's a softcover book of about 50 pages, similar to one that was published about Mölders.
Lastly, there ought to be some information on Oesau in Jägerblatt, but I don't know which issues offhand. Others might know more...
Hope that helps a bit,
Leon Venter