Kleinen Brüdern

[Tim O.]

Hi all

I am working through a Flugbuch from ZG 1, dating to summer 1944. The Bf 110s from this unit are working with single-engine German fighters and encountering USAAF escort fighters. I know the USAAF air crews referred to their fighter escorts as 'Little Brothers' but did the Germans also use this term for their single-engine fighters?

There are references in the Flugbuch to 'Kleinen Brüdern' and it is not obvious whether this refers to German single-engine fighters or USAAF escorts? The context seems to work either way!

Any insight would be welcome.

[John Manrho]

Tim,

Can yuo tell us which FB this is? Then we can check also.

Regards,

John

[Tim O.]

Hi John

The Flugbuch is in my collection and is to Oberfeldwebel Martin Heinze, who was a Bordfunker with 6./ZG 1 at the time.

Here are a couple of examples of the use of the term...

[Kaczmarek]

Hello,

the escort fighters in the USAAF was called as "Little friends".

The wording "Kleine Brüder" for the single engine fighters which escorting the heavy Bf 110 destroyers or bombers was usual in the Luftwaffe.

Kaczmarek

[Tim O.]

Thanks Kaczmarek

That makes sense.