[harrison987]

I would take out all the "kill" stats, and who flew what aircraft, how many missions, etc., and look at a Lufwaffe piliot as a human being, and the emotions involved during those 6 years...

That said...

Franz Stigler

Escorted a B-17 to the North Sea instead of shooting it down. Was awarded for his heroic act decades later.

Flew the Me109 and Me262 in combat...not very high in the kill category...but I think "kills" should not even be in the equation when finding a "true representation" of a Luftwaffe pilot. After all what "defines" a pilot? My answer would be his actions and reactions throughout those 6 years.

Stigler always told me that as a RULE, all German pilots would count parachutes that came out of bombers and fighters to make sure everyone made it out okay...they would also share their flying experiences/stories and occasionally have dinner with other (America) pilots who were captured. There was a big camaraderie between pilots on all sides...

There are many untold stories...pilots who never survived...so I think 1 pilot should stand out and speak for those who could not...

That would be Stigler.

He was the best representative as his documented actions throughout the war showed how "human" the German pilots (and Germans in General) really were, as opposed to the negative propaganda they received.


Mike