Tag Archives: Germany

Wing in Ground Effect – Flight in an Ekranoplan

In 1998/99 I had the unique opportunity to take two flights in Volga-2 ekranoplan produced by Volga Shipyard in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia. The small ekranoplan for non-military use like the eight seat Volga-2 were developed as small water taxis. They were part of the ground-effect vehicle (GEV), also called a wing-in-ground-effect (WIGE), ground-effect craft, wingship,Continue reading “Wing in Ground Effect – Flight in an Ekranoplan”

Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I

Ernst Udet was a German pilot during World War I and a Luftwaffe Colonel-General (Generaloberst) during World War II. Udet joined the Imperial German Air Service at the age of 19, and eventually became a flying ace of World War I, scoring 62 confirmed victories by the end of his life. The highest scoring German fighter pilot to survive that war, and theContinue reading “Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I”

Günther Rall – Third Highest scoring Air Ace of All Times – 275 Victories

General Günther Rall was a highly decorated German military aviator, whose military career spanned nearly forty years. Rall was the third most successful fighter pilot in aviation history, behind Gerhard Barkhorn, who is second, and Erich Hartmann, who is top scoring air ace of all times. Rall flew combat missions in the Battle of France, and Battle of Britain. He wasContinue reading “Günther Rall – Third Highest scoring Air Ace of All Times – 275 Victories”

German Air Ace Gerhard Barkhorn – Second Highest Scoring Ace of All Times

Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn (Gerd being short form for Gerhard) was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. Other than Hartmann, Barkhorn is the only fighter ace to ever exceed 300 claimed victories. Barkhorn flew his first combat missions in May 1940, during the Battle of France and then the Battle of Britain without shooting down any aircraft. His firstContinue reading “German Air Ace Gerhard Barkhorn – Second Highest Scoring Ace of All Times”

Messerschmitt – The Great German Aircraft Maker of World War II – Bf 109, Bf 110 and Me 262

Messerschmitt AG was a German share-ownership limited, aircraft manufacturing corporation named after its chief designer Willy Messerschmitt from mid-July 1938 onwards, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, in particular the Bf 109 and Me 262. The company survived in the post-war era, undergoing a number of mergers and changing its name from Messerschmitt to Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm before being bought by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA, now part of Airbus) inContinue reading “Messerschmitt – The Great German Aircraft Maker of World War II – Bf 109, Bf 110 and Me 262”

German Ace – Hans-Ulrich Rudel – Eagle of the Eastern Front – Greatest Fighter Pilot and Most Decorated German in WW II

Hans-Ulrich Rudel was a German ground-attack pilot, and the most decorated German serviceman of World War II, being the sole recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. Post-war, he was a prominent neo-Nazi activist in Latin America and West Germany. During the war, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, as well as one battleship, one cruiser,Continue reading “German Ace – Hans-Ulrich Rudel – Eagle of the Eastern Front – Greatest Fighter Pilot and Most Decorated German in WW II”

“Triple Ace” Shot 17 aircraft in a Day – Hans-Joachim Marseille – Most Amazing and Ingenious Combat Pilot

To be a Triple-ace in a day, the pilot must have destroyed 15 enemy aircraft in a single day. This has been achieved by only five pilots ever. All from the Luftwaffe. Hans-Joachim Marseille, also called “Stern von Afrika” (Star of Africa) by the Germans, shot down 17 Allied fighters in three sorties over North AfricaContinue reading ““Triple Ace” Shot 17 aircraft in a Day – Hans-Joachim Marseille – Most Amazing and Ingenious Combat Pilot”

German Ace – General Adolf Galland – 104 Aerial Victories – all against the Western Allies

Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout the WW II in Europe. Flew 705 combat missions. On four occasions, he survived being shot down, and was credited with 104 aerial victories, all against the Western Allies. He became a glider pilot in 1929. In 1932, he graduated asContinue reading “German Ace – General Adolf Galland – 104 Aerial Victories – all against the Western Allies”

Ace of Aces. Manfred von Richthofen “Red Baron”

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, more commonly known as Baron von Richthofen, and famous as the “Red Baron”, was a fighter pilot with the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (German Air Force, air arm of the Imerial German Army) during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces for his 80 air combat victories. Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to theContinue reading “Ace of Aces. Manfred von Richthofen “Red Baron””

Fighter Aces – Erich Hartmann – 352 Aerial Victories

Erich Alfred Hartmann was a German fighter pilot, serving with Luftwaffe, during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and faced 825 air combat engagements. He was credited with shooting down 352 Allied aircraft, which included 350 Soviet and 2 American. In his flyingContinue reading “Fighter Aces – Erich Hartmann – 352 Aerial Victories”