Ex-Luftwaffe pilots in French Military Aviation After WWII

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Was there any examples of Luftwaffe pilot veterans serving in French military aviation after World War II? There were ex-pilots of the Luftwaffe in the French Foreign Legion but they served as ground infantryman since the FFL doesn't have any flying machines. I was thinking that the French Army Light Aviation might had some Luftwaffe veterans of WWII.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Russell]

Gentlemen

Siegfried Freytag in FFL flew helicopters according to an interview on Australian TV a year before his death.

Cheers
Russell

[FalkeEins]

interesting. As Edward says - the Légion was transported by regular Armée de l’Air units. Freytag served for eighteen years in the 5e régiment étranger d’infanterie

[Nick Hector]

Originally Posted by Russell

Gentlemen

Siegfried Freytag in FFL flew helicopters according to an interview on Australian TV a year before his death.

Cheers
Russell

Which show was this on, Russel?
Is there a clip available anywhere?

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Dear Schlageter,

Pretty interesting information about the former Luftwaffe pilots that were in the Syrian and Lebanese Air Forces indeed. Thank you for sharing.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Russell]

Nick

Foreign correspondent was the show, and I cannot recall if there was a clip or not, although I saw it live. To say I was astonished is an understatement

Russell

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Contact the Australian Broadcasting Commission:

https://www.abc.net.au/foreign/contact-us

The ABC has excellent archives. Don't know about a clip, but you might be able to get a transcription.

Col

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

So the ex-Luftwaffe pilots of WWII who were in the French Foreign Legion may have a chance of flying French flying machines especially helecopters after all. The French military higher ups may had called for volunteers in the FFL who were ex-pilots to fly again. The topic about Luftwaffe pilot veterans flying and fighting in other air forces of the world after WWII especially the French military is unknown but interesting. It takes time and research. I sincerely hope we can come up with more examples of WWII Germans pilots in a foreign air force soon.

Edward L. Hsiao

[hanshauprich]

Hello,

Fhj-Uffz. René Darbois, born 1924 in Metz/France.
Served with 3./JG 4, chanced sides at 25. July 1944 in Italy.
Bf 109G-6, WNr. 160 756. Plane still in NASM marked as plane from JG 27.

Darbois chanced his name and flow Spitfire with an french unit in the RAF and flown 122 Missions as an helicopterpilot during the war in Indochina. Suizid 14.2.1955!!
h.

[kaki3152]

Gerhard Thyben (157V -JG54) served as pilot with the Colombian AF.