RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-04-02 AT 01:31 AM (GMT)]>Glenn,
>
>Didn’t Galland have considerable influence anyway? I thought
>he was made General Der Jagdwaffe or some such title. In the
>later stages of the war, Hitler became totally impossible
>to deal with and ever more of a tyrant. If I remember right,
>Galland was either stripped of or relinquished his most
>influential role, (when he realised he wasn’t getting any
>where) to fly the Me262 in combat.

He did, but like you said, as the official voice of the fighter force from Dec.41-Dec.44 he didn’t get what he wanted and what the Luftwaffe needed. Political greed, pathetic bureaucracy, and power gains by those higher up, in particular Goering, and delusional strategies by the highest; Hitler, were to see fit that the Luftwaffe was to die a starved force, and would never realise its true potential. Galland was only allowed to realise his dreams regarding the Me 262 by 1945 with an elite fighter unit; JV 44, way too late by then to make any difference anyway.

Had he been taken seriously and the Me 262 been given development/production priority back in 1943, and proven to Hitler that it was better deployed as an air superiority fighter, then things would have been harder for the Allies.

This is what he said about the Me 262.

———————————————————————

Adolph Galland’s report regarding the Me 262

Berlin, 25 May 1943

Most esteemed Herr Generalfeldmarschall!

On Saturday, the 22nd of the month, I tested the ME 262 at Augsburg in the presence of Oberst Petersen and other persons from the Technical Office. I would have preferred to report personally to the Generalfeldmarschall and also elaborate on other matters, however I was so occupied after my visit to Sicily that there was simply no time. The Reichmarschall has ordered me to report today.

Concerning the Me 262, I beg to state the following:

1.) The aircraft represents an enormous leap forward, it would give us an unimaginable lead over the enemy if he adheres to the piston engine.

2.) In-flight handling of the airframe is impressive.

3.) The power plants are fully convincing, except during take-off and landing.

4.) The aircraft offers entirely new tactical prospects.

I beg to submit the following proposal: The Fw 190D is under development, its performance should match the Me 209’s in all respects. The performance of the two types, however, will not be superior to the enemy’s models, particularly at altitude. The only progress seems to be in armament and higher speeds.

Conclusion:

a) Me 209 be discontinued

b) Total fighter production to switch from the Fw 190 with BMW 801 to the Fw 190 with DB 603 and Jumo 213 respectively.

c) The construction and industrial capacities thus released to be concentrated on the Me 262, with immediate effect.

I shall report immediately on my return.

Heil Hitler! Herr Generalfeldmarschall your most obedient servant.

Regards, Glenn.

RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

>If Galland had run the Luftwaffe, not Goerring, would things
>have been a lot harder for us?

Probably not. Hitler got what he wanted, and that was that pretty much that, although I believe Galland would have increased (some how) the fighter development that was done on the Me 262 by a huge margin.

Regards, Glenn.

RE: What is the greatest WWII fighter?

Squasher,

>As a heavy bomber the B-29 Superfort was untouchable.

Almost. A few were shot down by the Japanese in the last year of the war.

>The Me-262 selects itself as the best jet as there was no
>other competition.

There was competition in the Meteor, but the two never met in combat and the Meteor was too slow anyway.

>Nightfighter trophy would go to the P-61 Black widow.

Disagree here. My vote would be either Beaufighter or He 219 followed by the Bf-110G.

>Light bomber – Mosquito / Ju-88.

Ju-88 was far more versatile in the bombing role.

>Medium bomber – B-26 Mitchell

Its B-25, but anyway could you be thinking about the Marauder?

Regards, Glenn.

RE: Queen mother funeral flypast

I am positive I saw invasion stripes last nigth while watching it.

Regards, Glenn.

RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

>
>Adolf Galland – what a guy! What other pilot could get away
>with telling Goering to sod off?

Agree! Once he had seen the Me 262 in trial flights he suggested all German fighter production be switched to the FW 190 and the 262. Never happened, but he knew what was needed.

Regards, Glenn.