Quote:
Originally posted by RACooper
German Air Force (WW2):
Gruppenkommandeur Erich Hartmann – the top ace of all time (352 kills)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann
(admire Rudel’s military achievements, but his politics eliminated from the running)
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One slight correction - Hartmann ended the war as a Major in the Luftwaffe; the title of
Gruppenkommandeur signified he was a group commander - he was commander of the third
Gruppe of
Jagdgeschwader (fighter squadron) 52 (III/JG 52, using German notation).
(German Luftwaffe command positions:
Rottenführer - flight leader;
Staffelkapitän - squadron commander;
Gruppenkommandeur - group commander;
Geschwaderkommodore - wing commander)
After his release by the Soviets in 1955, he returned to the reorganized West German Luftwaffe, where he retired as an
Oberst - colonel.
Agree with you on Rudel... he may have been a bad-ass tankbuster, but his political leanings tarnished his career and later life.
Wittmann was another bad-ass tank ace, but the unfortunate association of him being in the Waffen-SS unfairly paints him as a red-blooded Nazi.
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