Tallest & Shortest Experten?

[Rob Romero]

The attatched photo has led me to ponder the relative heights and weights of various Experten. Though I’m sure someone will prove me wrong, Trautloft has to be the giant among them -he seems to loom over those around in almost any photo I’ve seen –I’ll guess over 6’2” (almost 200cm) and over 200lbs (90 Kg) in a profession that selected for capable men of small stature -how he qualified as a fighter pilot, much less struggled into his cramped low hooded Bf-109 mystifies. On the other end of the scale, after seeing a clip of Ostermann (102) I’ll nominate him as a candidate for the most diminutive experte (very short and rail thin).

Rob

[Chris Goss]

Hans Karl Mayer (1 &I/JG 53) was pretty tall-at least a head taller than other members of his Staffel and he really had to squeeze himself into the cockpit of his 109. His daughter and wife were similarly tall

[WEISNER]

Two pilots of Sturmstaffel 1 stand out in my mind as being in the over 6' club, Gerhard Vivroux and Heinz Steffen, Very tall men....
Kevin

[kaki3152]

Looking at the very short ones:
Major Gunther Specht was diminutive, 5' 3" maybe.
in Mombeeks JG-4 (Vol. I) his size is mentioned as "ein ganz kleines Kerl in Lederkombination"
In JG-53 Fw. Heinz Polak was probably one of the shortest pilots around, being 159 cm (5' 1") tall. He had about 9 victories.

[John Vasco]

From sight of photos, Herget of II./ZG 76, later nightfighters, was on the small side.

[christian]

Hi

Oberleutnant Ostermann from the III./JG 54 was a small type, but very dangerous.

Greetings Christian

[Primoz]

What about Obstlt. Carl Schumacher? I don't know if he qualifies as an Experte but he was very big and tall.

[David P. Williams]

Ernst Scheufele of JG 5 is 6 feet 4 inches and was barely able to squeeze himself into a 109.

Karl-Ludwig Johanssen, the Bordfunker of Martin Becker was at least 6 feet 3 inches, perhaps 6 feet 4 inches in his younger days.

Willi Herget of NJG 4 was only 5 feet 5 inches.

It would, seem looking at the top Experten in the Luftwaffe, that the average height was 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches. Hartmann 5 feet 7 inches, Rall and Barkhorn 5 feet 9 inches, although the likes of Walter Schuck is only 5 feet 5 inches.

[Rob Romero]

-Hans Beißwenger (152) loomed over many in his pictures as did Friedrich Beckh (48) who at 6’2” and 209 lbs. (190cm/95kg) may have been the only ‘Experte’ who wore eyeglasses –he was eventually “assigned a Kaczmarek who had particularly good vision. His wingman would guide him into combat with an enemy aircraft and during the fight not let him out of his sight since Beckh was totally blind to what was going on around him…” (Skawran p.65)

-Conversely Lt. Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (102) was so short that wooden blocks had to be added so he could push his rudder pedals!!!

Rob Romero

[fran]

Heinz Polak aka 'Gnome'


In JG-53 Fw. Heinz Polak was probably one of the shortest pilots around, being 159 cm (5' 1") tall. He had about 9 victories.[/quote]