Say, wasnt' there an 'in-joke' about a LW pilot posted here?

[NickM]

I vaguely recall some some story JG5(I think?) vets recalling some of their experiences; one of them made a joke RE: one of his cohort's short stature in the cockpit, so it went something like, 'if you see an Me with no one in it, then it's being flown by XXXXX'; I cannot find the link & am unsure what parameter to use to search; anyone recall this link or did I dream it;
Christher---you probably know this one--you're worked alot with JG5 material;
thanks, ahead of time;

NickM

[robert_schulte]

Hi Nick,
I guess You thought about the thread relating to Walter Schuck
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...3833#post13833

Best wishes
Robert

[kaki3152]

Not the only story of a short Luftwaffe pilot...

"Steinmann, his wingman Hans Franek,...and I waited for Major Specht.On the horizon two Fw-190s appeared and flew over the strip at low altitude.
In the first Fw-190 there was no one inside. She flew herself alone? A very short chap in a leather flying suit got out. That was him!"

I think Guenther Specht was failry short, probabbly around 5' 3". Josef Priller was only 5'4"" and there was Sgt pilot, Heinz Polak who flew for JG-53 who was,I believe 159 cm in height,5'2". All were succesful fighter pliots

[Andreas Brekken]

Well.... if you ever get to try a Bf 109 on for size, I can assure you you will never doubt that it could be an advantage not to be very tall or broad shouldered to be a successful user of this aircraft.....

Regards,
Andreas

[Horst Kube]

Originally Posted by Andreas Brekken

Well.... if you ever get to try a Bf 109 on for size, I can assure you you will never doubt that it could be an advantage not to be very tall or broad shouldered to be a successful user of this aircraft.....

Regards,
Andreas

After Schucks words, you are totally right:

At those war times, Schuck was happy to have a height of only 1.64 mtrs, which alllowed him to climb easily into a 109 and felt himself comfortable in it.

Having a convenient sight out from the so narrow and so thickly framed cockpit - it was no question, that he felt well in this a/c and loved this Me 109 aircraft.

To answer Franek's former question about Ernst Scheufeles tallness: He was 1,95 mtrs. long and suffered from that disadvantage during his whole fighter period. Nevertheless, Scheufele was able to shoot down 18 enemy fighters, including Mustangs, Lightnings, a.s.o.

Cheers, Horst

[NickM]

Robert:

Thanks, THAT'S the one...thanks to all that replied!

NickM

[Skyraider3D]

This is what a small pilot in practise looks like... a remote controlled Razorback?