What happened to the pilots of 303 Squadron?
During combat operations throughout 1941, No. 303 Squadron claimed some 46 enemy aircraft destroyed, seven probably destroyed and four damaged, for a loss of nine pilots (including three Commanding Officers). Some 20 Spitfires were written off or lost in action.
Who was the best Luftwaffe pilot?
These Were The Best Pilots The German Luftwaffe Had During World War II
- Hemann Graf – 212 kills.
- Heinrich Bär – 220 kills.
- Erich Rudorffer – 222 kills.
- Wilhelm “Willie” Batz – 237 kills.
- Otto Kittel – 267 kills.
- Gunther Rall – 275 kills.
- Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn – 301 kills.
- Erich “Bubi” Hartmann – 352.
What was the life expectancy of a Luftwaffe pilot?
The average life expectancy of a spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain was an astonishing four weeks. During the battle, 544 British RAF pilots died.
How old was the youngest pilot in ww2?
Youngest Bomber Pilot of WWII? A pilot who was 15 years old when he flew heavy bombers over Germany during the Second World War died in 2001 aged 74. Thomas Dobney applied to join the RAF in 1941, aged just 14, after a dare from a school friend.
How many Spitfire pilots are still alive?
The three surviving members of the Few are Flt Lt William Clark, 100, Wing Commander Paul Farnes, 101, and Flying Officer John Hemingway, 100.
Which country shot down the most German planes in ww2?
In just 42 days 303 Squadron shot down 126 German planes, becoming the most successful Fighter Command unit in the Battle of Britain. Nine of the Squadron’s pilots qualified as ‘aces’ for shooting down 5 or more enemy planes, including Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a Czech flying with the Poles who scored 17 downed planes.
Who are the famous pilots of the Luftwaffe?
Werner Baake. Herbert Bachnick. Johann Badum. Heinrich Bär. Herbert Bareuther. Gerhard Barkhorn. Heinrich Bartels. Franz Barten.
How did Theo Ehrler die in the Luftwaffe?
His fellow pilots reported that Ehrler took the job with apathy as the once glorious triumphs of the Luftwaffe deteriorated to suicide missions by the end of the war. He himself ended his life by ramming into an American bomber. Ehrler’s last radio transmission was: “Theo, I have run out of ammunition. I’m going to ram this one. Good bye.
Who was the best German fighter pilot of World War 2?
Graf flew 830 combat missions and won 10 more aerial victories on the Western Front, which includes six four-engine bombers and one Mosquito. After the war, he was captured by the Americans but handed over to the Soviets. He survived the Soviet POW camps and returned to Germany.
How many German pilots were killed in World War 2?
The Luftwaffe operated with 3,400,000 personnel throughout the war. German day and night fighter pilots claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories during World War II, 25,000 over British or American and 45,000 over Russian flown aircraft.