Major beim Stabe - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Andy Fletcher · #1 16th February 2007, 18:50

Would the position of Major beim Stabe in a geschwader Stab be held by a pilot or by an officer of any suitable branch.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Kurt Braatz · #2 16th February 2007, 19:10

Andy,

these officers were mostly reactivated WW I flyers who had gained huge experience in the industry or in public service during the inter-war years. In fighting the paper war for their much younger Gruppenkommandeure oder Geschwaderkommodores, they were invaluable. More than once, they also acted as coaches for their younger superiors in many aspects of leadership.

Andy Fletcher · #3 16th February 2007, 19:26

Hi Kurt,

Many thanks for the reply. So from what you say would I be correct in assuming that individuals filling the position of Major beim Stabe would rarely if ever fly on ops and were basically confined to "flying" a desk.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Kurt Braatz · #4 20th February 2007, 18:23

Yep, that's correct, Andy. Most of them were well beyond their forties.

Andy Fletcher · #5 20th February 2007, 18:49

Many thanks Kurt.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Stig Jarlevik · #6 20th February 2007, 20:22

OK Guys

But if it was such a rarity that the good old Major did fly, why did Luftwaffe evolve such a very peculiar marking for the post? Chevron with a double bar is a very distinct marking.

Was that supposed to be a warning not to mix it with a guy who had very little flight training of late??

Cheers
Stig

Andy Fletcher · #7 20th February 2007, 23:19

Hi Stig,

That's a very good point.

The following link (Ruy's site) shows the markings Stig's talking about

http://www.xs4all.nl/~rhorta/jgmark.htm

Cheers

Andy Fletcher