Ex-Luftwaffe pilots in French Military Aviation After WWII

[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]

I thought that the Germans in the Luftwaffe that were born in Alsace and Lorraine territory might have joined the French Air Force after WWII. Might be possible.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Bookman]

Only the famous JG4 Rene Darbois, who defected with the me109g later painted as my friend Clades white 2 of JG 27, seen at Smithsonian air and space. Darbois was later a flier in Indochina, and sadly committed suicide years later.
Only one other, I've met whose name was Roger, sorry forgot his family name, he flew JU 52's in Indochina for a time.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

I'm not surprised if the veteran pilots from the Luftwaffe would be called to fly the Ju-52 transport planes of the French Air Force during the war of Indochina. I know there was no air-to-air combat over Indochina back then.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

The French Air Force and the French Naval Force had a lot of ex-Luftwaffe aircraft in their inventory. Fw-190s,Ju-88s,Ju-52s,Fi-156s,etc. The Luftwaffe pilot veterans who did joined the French Military Aviation would have no trouble flying them. Kind like a reunion to the Germans.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

I wonder if there were Luftwaffe pilot veterans ever became airmen of fortune and flew combat sorties over South Africa especially the Congo? The need of pilots from different countries of Europe to go into action over that hot region was great.

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

I like this topic that I made. So I will move it forward.

Edward L. Hsiao