Walter Scheel

[Komet163]

Gentelmen

Does anyone know if Scheel was involved in any victories ?

During World War II, he served in the Luftwaffe during the last years of the war as a radar operator on a Bf 110 night fighter.

Walter Scheel served under the command of Major Falck already when this first NJG was formed and was to become Adjutant III. Gruppe / NJG 1 later, holding the rank of Leutnant (last rank: Oberleutnant). He wrote the Preface of Falcks memoirs "Falkenjahre" (2003).

Thanks
Bill

[VtwinVince]

Bill, is this the same man who became President of West Germany?

[Komet163]

Hi Vince

Yes, this is the man

Cheers
Bill

[Raimo Malkamäki]

Hi,
if you are interested in Walter Scheel, you should read Sand und Feuer by Martin Drewes. Drewes was Gruppenkommandeur of III/NJG 1 and Scheel was his adjutant. Scheel also wrote preface to this book.

There are many nice short stories about Scheel in the book, and it is clear that Drewes appreciated future President very highly. According to the book, Scheel joined Luftwaffe already in September 1939, served first in ground personnel at airfields in France, was transferred to the Eastern front in Luftwaffe Feld Division, got sick, spent several months in hospital and was finally sent to NJG 1 to recover. Also according to Drewes, Scheel was not a radar operator but rear gunner, and they flew some missions together. Scheel also flew with other pilots, Major Horst Höfele for example. However, it is not clearly stated if he participated in any victories or not.

I translated Sand und Feuer to Finnish language in 2012. It is one of my favourite Luftwaffe memoirs, well written and interesting.

Br Raimo

[ju55dk]

Freiburg:

Scheel, Walter
Bestandsbezeichnung
Personalunterlagen von Angehörigen der Reichswehr und Wehrmacht
Geburtsdatum
8.7.1919
Sterbedatum
24.8.2016
Amtsbezeichnung/Dienstgrad
Oberleutant Kr.O.
Unterlagenart
Personalakte

Junker

[Komet163]

Many thanks for the info Gentlemen ! Good for you Raimo, that must have been quite an effort !

Cheers
Bill