04.Walter Krupinski (The teacher of the greatest fighter)

If you mention an ace fighter in German that was 'grand talents mature slowly,' it will be Walter Krupinski without a doubt. Unlike his greatest student--Erich Hartmann, he entered the German air force before the war, joint the squadron created more than 30 ace fighters-- Jagdgeschwader 52, even under command of the ace fighter and the symbol of the squadron-- Rudolf Resch, he didn't shot down anything in the Battle of Britain, which almost all of the pilots had shot down at least one aircraft. 

Why?

Because he was a terrible shooter, impressive terrible. Rumor said that once his superior told him if he doesn't shoot any RAF(Royal Air Force, Britain) down, he will be send to the transport squadron to fly the dump plane.  

It was not until he changed how he fight on the sky that change his destiny. He started to ignore the rule of how to fight--shoot it at a range, snipe it as the red baron. He started to shoot at a super close range. according to his autobiography, he said that he will not pull the trigger until 'the enemy fill up my whole window,' which even the guy on the ground didn't shape his plane into good mode, he still got a kill.

Krupinski on the 2nd from the right

As he started to fight in his own way, he won lots of credits everyday. He shot down his first enemy from the sky as the whole unit transport to the Eastern front line as the Operation Barbarossa just started, and shot down 50 till the next year, which won him a metal. The day Erich Hartmann assigned to the squadron, something amazing happened. Hartmann wrote 'When I assigned to the squadron, the end of the sky came a BF109 smoking.(.......) The plane suddenly crashed, but surprisingly, the pilot walked out without harm. He is Walter Krupinski. ' 

Walter Krupinski on the left, with Erich Hartmann on the left

Walter Krupinski's picture with his signature on the top left

He was then promoted as the squadron leader in 1943, and Erich Hartmann became his wingman, learned lots of skills of how to fight to destroy enemy without wasting bullet. As he achieved his 177 victory, he was transported to lots of squadron, protecting his beloved country, including taking part in the unit full of aces --Jagdverband 44, flying the newest jet fighter--Me262 on the sky of Berlin.

Remake Me262. Most of the Me262 were taken away by USA and USSR for research

Me262 engaging

As the way how Krupinski fight was too risky, he often put himself into great danger, wounded several times, some of which almost killed him. At the coming of the end of the war, he surrendered to the US, and was in prision for half of a year. 

Instead of taking part in the war as an ace fighter, he was a former chief of  Fremde Heere Ost, know as the FHO, the Nazi German's intelligence at the Eastern front line gathering information about Soviet Union. He was recruited by the Gehlen Organization, former of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), the Federal Intelligence Service of the Germany, till 1953. The history of this is remain unknown.

RF86F, the plane Krupinski flied post war at first

Krupinski in a F104G2, the one on the left

F104 flew by Krupinski

Krupinski test flied F15 for the German air force

Krupinski entered Bundeswehr post war. He climbed highly up rank, but was forced to retire as General lieutenant in 1976, as he and his friend had taken the autobiography given out by Hans-Ulrich Rudel, a businessman and a former Nazi flying ace in a veterans' reunion of the Aufklärungsgeschwader 51, which was the place once Krupinski had been. He was criticized as Hans was criticized as a Nazi by the ignorant reporters, trying to panic the public that the Nazi is back in the army again for political issues. He retired and died at 2000 in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Germany.

03. Erich Alfred Hartmann (The Ace of the ace)

Born in a doctor's family, the whole family moved to China because of the Great Depression in 1922, where Hartmann had his childhood, and was forced to leave China as the China Civil war broke out at 1928(A clearance for some of you:China had several contemporary Civil War ).He was highly educated, major in Gymnasium, and met his wife-to-be -- Ursula "Usch" Paetsch.


Hartmann's love in flying began when he taken part in the glider program, which was lead by his mom, the first female glider in Germany. As the Nazi power rises, they put great effot on glider program, and had Harmann's mother form a glider school, which Hartmann became instructor in 14.


He taken part in military training in Luftwaffe when he was 18. As a trainee, he was once grounded for playing stunts after training. Fortunately, the grounded saved his life. The pilot who flew his mission was killed as he occurred an engine failure and crashed suddenly. After that, he became modest and told the youngsters to "Fly with the head, not the muscles."

BF 109 and it's engine, from wikipedia.org

 He was assigned to jagdgeschwader 52 (JG52) when it was based at the Eastern front, being on the first line facing with the Soviet Union fighter. When he and several pilots were task to report to the base of JG52 via flying Stuka JU87, a well known bomber nicknamed as the Whistle Reaper , he ended up destroyed the fighter's hut  by crashing it into the hut. He learned alot from the elders, especially from Paule Roßmann, who teach him the fundamental of surprise, which became the fundamental of the "Hartmann attacking style" -- "See – Decide – Attack – Break" style in the aerial combat. After several mock combats and practice, they conceded that Erich Alfred Hartmann is a really talanted fighter pilot, as he could shoot the target directly at the range of 300 meters. As human might not notice what had happened 300 meters away, it's a miracle to recognize what is it and pull the trigger with about 75% and more directly hit.

BF109G, though not the one Hartmann flew

At first, Hartmann was to eager to score a kill, that he violated almost all of the air-air combat rules and crushed his aircraft in a landing after he ran out of oil.He was later assigned to the captain of the JG52, Walter Krupinski, who often told him "Hey bubi(baby in German, which is the nickname of Hartmann), get in closer." This is the technique that made Hartmann as the ace fighter as he combine the surprise attack and the super close shot.

Why is this such an important character to become the ace fighter? As the word said by the red baron, the first thing to become an ace fighter is not to be killed. Surprise attack cut down the possibility to be found by the enemy. And the super close shot (less than 20 meters)is the guarantee of putting bullets into the enemies' aircraft to shot them down without wasting lots of bullets. 

Hartmann and his aircraft

Here is how the "Hartmann's style" works, according to Wikipedia.org:
1.Observe the enemy
2.Decide how to proceed with the attack
3.Make the attack
4.Disengage to re-evaluate the situation.

On September 20, 1943, he won his 100th aerial victory. And at October 29, he was awarded Ritterkreuz, as he shot down 48 more between then. He shot down in a quicker pace day by day, and was well known as the "Cherniy Chort ("Black Devil")" in Soviet. Even though the Mustangs were given by America to help Soviet, he still won lots of victories, and won "the Diamonds to the Knight's Cross." He won himself a ten day leave, which let him had a chance to married with his long-time love,  Ursula "Usch" Paetsch.

Bf109 at the front line of East.

After his last kill, which made him scored and confirmed  his 352 aerial victories, he disobeyed to leave his JG52 and retreat to Britain solo. He later retreated with all of the unit members of JG52 to the US 90th infantry division, but was sent to Soviet because of the agreement sent by the US and Soviet--the Yalta agreement. He was criticized to kill more than 50 civilian and tried to made to confirmed it via did't gave him anything but water, but he wasn't moved. He wasn't shamed of his war service, even go on a hunger strike before he was forced to fed by the Soviet, as he his so well known in Nazi German that if he died, the prison all over the world will have a riot, because he is the hero of Germany who didn't tried to kill enemy but to destroy enemy aircraft.

He was traded by Soviet Union and was went back to Germany, and served again as a pilot, retired as he and the superiors had a fight against using F104 made by USA or not, as he foresee it will crash alot in the future.

F86 Sabre, the plane he flew 

F104g known as the "widow maker"

He was known as the "Ace of ace" by the world, till now no one has a chance to surpass him.

02. Oswald Boelcke (Father of Air Fighting Tactics)

Born in a schoolmaster's family, His father and his family went back to Argentina, the place where they just return. His three siblings were born in Argentina later. Years later, his family moved back to Germany again. 

He wasn't really healthy when he was young though, as he once caught whooping cough, after recovery, he tried to build his stamina, however, he had the tendency toward asthma. He learned alot of sports, but he did't became very tall after all of these efforts.

Bearing in a nationalist and a militarist's family, he showed interests in it under the influence of his father, and wrote a personal letter to Kaiser(King in German) to ask to attend the military school. Though he was granted, his parents were objected to it.He attended Herzog Friedrichs-Gymnasium instead,graduated at Easter, 1911. Then he started his military life.

At the WWI, the "war of all war" started, he transferred to Fliegertruppe, He passed his final pilot's exam on 15 August 1914, then immediately posted to active duty. As his elder brother served in the military too, he was pulled into ihs brother's squadron. He won an Iron Cross Second Class for flying over 50 missions. However, they were antipathy by others, and, he was transferred away from his brother.

Boelcke was transferred to FFA 62 in April 1915 which was based at Douai. This was a reconnaissance unit using LVG C.II two-seater aircraft to observe and adjust artillery fire. However, sometimes enemy will come to expel them. Boelcke's observer (Leutnant Heinz von Wǘhlisch) shot down their first enemy aircraft on 4 July 1915, in a protracted running fight between reconnaissance craft. Later they landed and confirmed the enemy pilot's death.

LVG C.II

LVG C.II (front)

Boelcke won his first individual aerial combat while flying in E.3/15 on 19 August 1915. However, hero won't just to be remember by killing enemies. He saved a French boy from drowning near his base, with himself fully clothed.he received the Prussian Lifesaving Medal.

E.3/15

He moved from base to base during that period, downed four more aircraft before the end of the year. But his partner, his greatest competitor was just after him. They started a "horse race" for the metal House Order of Hohenzollern. Boelcke won it first at last via shooting down the enemy before his competitor got it six days after.

He and his pilot friends started another race -- the ace race. His friend's tactic was so great that he sometimes surpassed him in the amount. But Boelcke started to evolution his way to shoot enemies--kill the pilot instead of destroy the war machine. He won the competition at last, named as (ace in German)

At this mean time, he changed his aircraft into newer Halberstadt single-gun biplane fighters, and twin-gun armed Albatros biplane aircraft, both types fitted with synchronized guns.  Though this made the German advantage again, Boelcke still work on his own counter methods: flying in tight formations, accurate gunnery in combat and remaining within his own German lines.

Halberstadt D.II

However, their competition was known by the Wilhelm II, the German Emperor. After one of his friend, and his main competitor was killed in an accident,he was grounded for fear that the country will lose another ace. He had become such an important hero to the German public, as well as such an authority on aerial warfare, that he could not be risked. Choosing between a desk job and a tour of the Middle East. At the end of his middle tour, after he met the Emperor, he was announced to raise, organize and command his own tactical fighter squadron-- Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 2.

He was known as the "Gentleman Pilot" as he informed the enemy's references for the news that they were alife. Boelcke's kindness led to the newspaper comment that he was a "Gentleman Pilot", known as it since then.

He formed Jagdstaffel 2, the first real fighter squadron in Germany. The  Jagdstaffel 2 created alot of ace fighers, including the red baron:Manfred von Richthofen. At first, they have the problem that they are lack of planes, as they even use worn On 16 September, Boelcke's new squadron received five new Albatros D.Is for the pilots, and an improved Albatros D.II for the Staffelfuhrer. They become the crawler on the sky huntung enemies via their guns.

 Unfortunately, aces dropped out of the sky.

Boelcke set out on 28 October 1916 for his sixth sortie of the day with his two best pilots, Manfred von Richthofen and Erwin Böhme, and three others. Before they had set out on their attack, Boelcke, rushing to get ready, failed to strap on his safety belt properly. This caused his death at last. 

In the ensuing dogfight, Boelcke and Böhme, unaware of each other's presence, closed in on the same aircraft, trying to persuade it. Boelcke swerved to avoid a collision with the interceding aircraft that flew by Richthofen, and Böhme's landing gear brushed Boelcke's upper wing. As the fabric peeled off the upper wing of his aircraft, Boelcke struggled for control. He and his aircraft fell out of sight into a cloud, when it emerged, the top wing was gone.Boelcke made a relatively soft crash-landing. The impact seemed survivable. However, his lap belt did not restrain him, and he never wore a helmet when he flew.

Minutes later, the pilot's lifeless body was pulled from his smashed Albatros D.II. Oswald Boelcke, the victor of 40 aerial engagements, was dead at age 25.

In the end, Boelcke had died because of a violation of one of his own dicta, which was quite ironic.

01. Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen （der Rote Baron, Red Baron）

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen's photo

Born in a formal royal family in Kleinburg, Richthofen was highly educated. When he was young, he loved riding horses, hunting and gymnastics at school. He was also quite well in curricular, as he won quite a lot of rewards while he was in school. He started military training at age 11. Completed training in 1911, he joint Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexander der III. von Russland (1. Westpreußisches) Nr. 1("1st Emperor Alexander III of Russia Uhlan Regiment (1st West Prussian)"), and assigned to Eskadron ("No. 3 Squadron").

At the world war I, he served as a cavalry reconnaissance officer both on the eastern and western front line. As the WWI became trench warfare, the recon became useless and was dismounted. He started to serving as dispatch runners and field telephone operators

Germany cavalry reconnaissance officer 

He was disappointed, willing to keep away from the war without honor but death.he applied for a transfer toDie Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Army Air Service), later to be known as the Luftstreitkräfte. Considering his unmilitary attitude, he was surprised that he was granted. And here started his legend.

At first, just like the all other newby fighter pilot trainee, he  was an observer on reconnaissance in Feldflieger Abteilung 69 ("No. 69 Flying Squadron") at the Eastern Front. It was not until he met the German ace fighter pilot Oswald Boelcke that he started his training. He served at the bomber squadorn at first, and his was surprisingly, a below average pilot at first, even violate rules. 

the plane  Richthofen flew at first --Albatros C.III 

He met German ace Oswald Boelcke again as he was searching for his fighter squadron Jagdstaffel2. Unfortunately, Oswald Boelcke was killed in an accident in air combat, and Richthofen witnessed it.Richthofen started to shoot down tons of enemies from the sky since then, even downed the British Ace -- Major Lanoe Hawker VC. During the dogfight, Hawker tried to escape from the shooting line, but failed at last and was shot in head from back to death. He even formed the most famous figher squadron in WWI--the flying circus. He painted his fighter all into red, which made some of the enemies escaped at the very moment they saw him.

 Richtofen's Flying Circus by Nicolas Trudgian

 Being the commander, he wasn't undefeated.Richthofen sustained a serious head wound, causing instant disorientation and temporary partial blindness during that fight, almost went out of conscious. The injury required multiple operations to remove bone splinters from the impact area. He completed his autobiography during his treatment. However, the injury became a serious problem--he often suffered from post-flight nausea and headaches and a change in temperament. This became a theory linking this injury to his death.

209 Squadron Badge – the red eagle falling – symbolizes the fall of the Red Baron

On 21 April 1918, he was seriously wounded by a .303 bullet and later died after landing while he was pursuing a Sopwith Camel.Their were several theories of how he was killed. The Canadian fighter, Arthur Brown said it was his victory, as he shot at Richthofen for twice. However, historian doen't agree. Some historian and doctor consider it as a kill made by the Anti-aircraft guns shot by Cedric Popkin, a Australian machine gunner shooting Richthofen while he flew by. The mystery was finally solved as  it was found out that he might be killed by an unknown soldier on the ground.

He was burial by the enemies,Six officers served as pallbearers, and a guard of honour from the squadron's other ranks fired a salute. He was honored by his enemy,as one of the allied squadrons stationed nearby presented memorial wreaths, with one of which was inscribed with the words, "To Our Gallant and Worthy Foe".

Red Baron's funeral on 22 April 1918.

At last,  Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, also known as der Rote Baron, Red Baron had been officially credited with 80 air combat victories, more than any other pilot of the war. He was a legend in the sky, and the best fighter pilot in WWI in the sky.