I Flew for the Fuhrer by Heinz Knocke

Author:Heinz Knocke
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781783030767
Publisher: Frontline Books
Published: 2012-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

23rd March, 1943.

When I arrive on duty out at the dispersal point there is a message from the station switchboard: “Sir, last night there was a call from the Experimental Station at Rechlin. They ask you to let them have a full report immediately.”

Good God! If only I had never dropped that bomb!

At 1000 hours General Kammhuber calls. This poisonous little twerp, commonly known as “Wurzelsepp”, is Commanding General of the Twelfth Air Corps.

I receive a terrific reprimand on account of my high-handed action of yesterday. He is incoherent with rage. I have to hold the telephone at arm’s length from my ear until the din subsides.

“Where do you suppose we would get to if every Lieutenant just did as he damned well pleased?” shouts the irate voice at the other end. “What the blazes do you think you were doing?”

I knew that question was coming. It happens every time in our Services whenever the superior officer runs out of his store of expletives when administering a reprimand. Am I expected to answer that I cannot help playing with bombs because I so adore the funny noise they make when they go off?

“Well, do you have anything to say for yourself?”

I most certainly have!

“Yes, sir. Last night the Reich-Marshal telephoned me and personally expressed his appreciation of my initiative.”

There! That takes care of Wurzelsepp. I hear him deflate with a gasp. One man’s meat is another man’s poison, according to the old German proverb.

Colonel Lützow, the Inspector of the German Fighter Command, arrives by air during the afternoon.

The tall young Colonel is one of our finest fighter pilots, his decorations including the Knight’s Cross with Swords. He is popular with all ranks because of his easy charm and warm personality. In an entirely simple and straightforward way he discusses with me the potentialities inherent in air-to-air bombing operations.

As an experimental measure it is decided that one of the Flights in No. 26 Fighter Wing, based on the Channel Coast, shall also attempt to bomb the massed Yank formations. We are both convinced that in any event these tactics cannot last long, once the enemy provides the bombers with an escort of fighters.

“What an unholy flap there has been over that wretched egg, sir! It makes me wish I had never dropped it!”

Lützow laughs: “Me, too!”

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