Other WW2 Disabled Pilots

Hans-Ulrich Rudel returned to combat flying ops after having one leg amputated below the knee.

Gunther Rall also returned to flying ops after having his thumb shot off by a 56th FG P-47 in May ’44.

This would be Swiss born German national Hptmn Walter Rubensdoerffer Grpn Kmndr Erprobungs Gruppe 210, killed on the 15th August: he had one leg. Skipping back a bit to WW1, Mick Mannock, 74 & 85 Sqdns could only see with one eye.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

To the very best of my knowledge Rubensdorffer did not have a wooden leg. As for Mannock, I am currently working on a book about Mannock with Norman Franks and there is certainly a good deal of doubt about him being blind in one eye. From memory it was Joachim Huth who had one leg. Andy Saunders

The incident on August 13th 1940 when the escort for the German raid on Eastchurch got the recall and turned back, but the bombers carried on is well known. I don’t have a source to hand (it’s called being at work!), but either the fighter leader (Huth?, rings a bell) or the bomber leader (Fink, I think with a bit morer certainty) had a wooden leg, having lost it either in WW1 or Spain.

Can anyone fill in the gaps?

Adrian

This would be Swiss born German national Hptmn Walter Rubensdoerffer Grpn Kmndr Erprobungs Gruppe 210, killed on the 15th August: he had one leg. Skipping back a bit to WW1, Mick Mannock, 74 & 85 Sqdns could only see with one eye.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker lost an arm and continued flying with a leather strap wrapped around the controls.

Pages 36 and 37 from this site will tell you more.

http://83.138.136.216/rafcms/mediafiles/2BCF1A04_1143_EC82_2E88D42EBED2CACA.pdf

Gus Walker was my fathers Commanding Officer with 50 Squadron, I have in my possession a Christmas card signed by him when he was commanding at North Luffenham in 1941.

Wasn’t James MacLachlan shot down by flak in a Mustang and killed while on a Rhubarb with Geoffrey Page?

I’m not sure Kev. All I know about him other than what I posted above is that he died due to injuries late in the war.

The Squadron Signal publication “Hurricane at War” has a photo of him standing beside his personalised Hurricane. The Hurricane nose-art consists of a severed arm and hand, with the hand giving a victory sign.

Best wishes
Steve P

Thanks Guys, just what I am looking for. I am looking to equate Warnes situation to others who overcame a particular disability to fight for their country. Bader’s the obvious example, but it would be nice to relate to others rather than the most famous case.

In Warnes case, rather like Bader, he badgered his way to see the various MO’s and Selection people, who, after he had spent £50 on contact lenses relented and allowed him to under go refresher flying training.

For an exceptional “one-eyed” pilot, just look up Wiley Post.

Not a combat pilot, but solo around-the-world in a single-engine aircraft in the 1930s, and high-altitude research flights requiring a pressure suit are not exactly Sunday afternoon joy-rides.

Wasn’t James MacLachlan shot down by flak in a Mustang and killed while on a Rhubarb with Geoffrey Page?

I also personally know of one bomber pilot who was removed from his second tour of operations when it was discovered he had an eye problem that he had successfully managed to conceal for some considerable time. Won’t name him because I’m not sure how public this knowledge is or how public he’d like it to be.

Regards,

kev35

The incident on August 13th 1940 when the escort for the German raid on Eastchurch got the recall and turned back, but the bombers carried on is well known. I don’t have a source to hand (it’s called being at work!), but either the fighter leader (Huth?, rings a bell) or the bomber leader (Fink, I think with a bit morer certainty) had a wooden leg, having lost it either in WW1 or Spain.

Can anyone fill in the gaps?

Adrian

Bryan Cox’s excellent book ‘Pacific Scrapbook’ records on Page 96 about pilot Wing Commander Dick Webb DSO DFC, who flew with No. 485 (NZ) Squadron on Spitfires during the war, and he lost an eye in combat. However he returned to flying with just one eye, which must be unusual.

He later flew Corsairs with No. 14 (Occupational) Squadron postwar, and converted onto the Meteor at Ardmore, NZ. He was killed when co-piloting a Bristol Freighter NZ5908 and hit a hill in cloud near Blenheim on 27/5/1953.

James MacLachlan lost his left forearm duriing the Malta campaign. He later went on to become CO of 1 Squadron.

Best wishes
Steve P