Most Representative Luftwaffe Pilot?

[DunkBM]

Which of all the luftwaffe pilots would you all say represented the true image of the WW2 German Fighter Pilot and why?

[DunkBM]

I could change that a bit....who is the most interesting Luftwaffe pilot and why?

[Jim P.]

Heinz Bar - flew throughout the war on all fronts in virtually every type of single engined fighter the Germans had up to and including the 262, and survived.

[DunkBM]

Good candidate - was on my list. But what about Marseille?

[Dean M. Wick]

Greetings: What about Addi Glunz of JG26? Not even close to the highest scorer's, but with the exception of approx. 3 Russian claims, all of his Victories were claimed in the West. Another point is that in a career that spanned most of the war, he was never actually shot down! Wait a minute....I suppose that would probably take him out of the "most representative" category, as very few Luftwaffe pilots could make that claim. My 2 cents worth anyway! Cheers. Dean.

[DunkBM]

Good point and he was on my radar too. Wasn't he very tall??

[Robert Forsyth]

There were many Ritterkreuz handed out to the Transportflieger. Their flying skills, mission profiles (Crete, Stalingrad and other pockets in Russia, etc – usually without defensive armament), length of service and accomplishments are often astounding and overshadowed by the Jagdflieger.

Robert Forsyth

[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

[ChrisS]

Lutzow for the Jagdwaffe. Fought from Spain almost to end from Bf 109 B to Me 262, regretably meeting his kismet at the end of the war.

I am still thinking about Stuka and Kampflieger- so many over 500 missions!!!!!!

Chris

[John Manrho]

I would rather choose one of those very experienced Schwarmführer that started in the West in 1941/1942, helped all those newcomers to get a grip of that overwhelming strain in 1944, ended as Staffelführer and finally found his end in the final battles of 1944/1945.....I choose Leutnant Alwin Doppler, 2./JG 11. In 112 missions 32 Viermot....killed on 1.1.1945.

John