Here is a pretty cool report by german test pilot Hans-Werner Lerche who, during the final days of the second world war, went to fly the last Do 335 from Rechlin to Oberpfaffenhofen. It’s in german so you might want to use google translate if you like.
By: trumper - 22nd July 2013 at 15:48
Just reading Eric winkle Browns wings on my sleeve ,what a life and experiences.I will have to keep an eye out for the Lerche book as well.
By: WZ862 - 22nd July 2013 at 14:51
Lerche published his book “Luftwaffe Test Piiot” Janes 1980, translated from its 1977 German predecessor in which this test report is not included but there is a written recollection of his last flight in the Do335. He recalled it as “an unusually powerful aircraft with exceptional flying qualities.”
I managed to pick up my copy from the second hand section of the bookshop at RAFM Cosford, a lovely read with descriptions of flying amongst many others, the Lancaster, Wellington and Tempest. His test report on the Lavochkin La-5 is an appendix in the book.
Lerche was eventually put in command of E 2 Beute, the Captured Aircraft Section at Rechlin. In some ways, his career path , from a German perspective in test flying, seemed to mirror somewhat, that of our own Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown.
Sign In
July 22, 2013 at 11:40 am