| - this classic maxim
by the famous WW I ace Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen was almost
driven into absurdum by the young and ambitious fighter pilots
of the Luftwaffe 1939-1945. Hence, the top layer among the German
fighter pilots in the last World War amassed absolutely astonishing
aerial victory tallies. Giving top priority to the number of
shot down enemy aircraft, spurring them with an increasing system
of military awards, and raising the top-scorers to the skies,
the whole Third Reich apparatus managed to create what Russian
aircraft constructor Alexander Yakovlev once called "horrible
flying wolves" out of young and naive - and very talented
- flight enthusiasts. Their like will never be seen in history
again. I wish to portray some of them and their world on this
site. It is not my intention to portray them as "heroes".
It is just a matter of presenting a small part of 20th Century
history - and a vital part of aviation history. |
