Wow, just wow - Graf and Grislawski

[Red Baroness]

Thanks to Christer and Claes for such a wonderful book, and to all who worked on this magnificent piece of work. I bought it for myself for Christmas, and I'm about halfway through it.

The story of "Paule" Rossman's hamster hunting had me in tears of laughter, absolute laughter!

My friend is eager for me to finish it, so she can read it herself.

We now only wish for one thing - a biography of Oesau. It always puzzles me - for someone so apparently "popular" during his time, why no biography made other than the small booklet (which a friend is hunting down for me). I guess the same could go for Moelders as well.

Once again, thanks for this awesome book, and all the work that was done on it. Instead of something political, I get to see the "men behind the machines" to turn a phrase.

[Doug Stankey]

This is what we have on Oesau:

OESAU, Walter.
Nickname: “Gulle”.
(DOB: 28.06.13 in Farnewinkel/Holstein).
(RES, DKG).
1933 joined the army, assigned to an artillery rgt.
1934 promo to Fahnenjunker and undertook flying training at a DVS.
1936 assigned to I./JG 132.
20.04.37 promo to Lt.
04.38 volunteered for the Legion Condor in Spain (to c.02.39).

(dates unknown) with J/88.
01.03.39 trf to Stab I./JG 2 (sic).
06.6.39 Oblt., awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Brillanten.
15.07.39 Oblt., temporary trf JG 2 to I./JG 20 and appt Staka 1./JG 20 (to 04.07.40).
04.07.40 appt Staka 7./JG 51 (to 24.08.40).
19.07.40 promo to Hptm.
20.08.40 Hptm., awarded Ritterkreuz, Staka 7./JG 51.
25.08.40 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./JG 51 (to 10.11.40).
11.11.40 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./JG 3 (to 28.07.41).
06.02.41 Hptm., awarded Eichenlaub, Kdr. III./JG 3.
15.07.41 Hptm., awarded Schwerter, Kdr. III./JG 3 and promo to Maj..
01.08.41 Maj., appt Kommodore JG 2 (to 18.06.43).
01.02.43 promo to Obstlt.
22.06.43 Obstlt., appt Jagdfliegerführer 4 (Lfl. 3) (to 01.09.43).
17.10.43 Obstlt., awarded DKG, Jafü 4.
12.11.43 Obstlt., appt Kommodore JG 1 (to 11.05.44 KIA - shot down by P-38 Lightnings over St.-Vith in the Eifel).
10.01.44 awarded DKG.
01.05.44 posthumous promo to Oberst.
Credited with 125 air victories in some 300 combat missions.


This isn’t a full biography, by any means, but it is a framework of his career.


LdZ
DGS