American Third Reich pilots
 

Does anyone know if there was a German equivalent of the RAF Eagle squadrons during WW2 whilst the US was neutral?
There must have been plenty of Americans with German heritage who might have sought such a role?
I've tried Googling it but found nil.

Very pertinent and interesting question, given the German American Bund existence at the time. After all, the RAF had many nationalities join, such as Argentineans and Mexicans.

And Germans

Doubt it very very much. It would have known about long before now. The only known German - Americans who went to do their bit for the fatherland were those dressed as GI's at Malmady etc during the Battle of the Bulge, and we know what happened to them. They were lined up and shot as traitors.

I guess you're right cyflyer. I wonder why it was so one sided?


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It must have been quite an internal struggle for many of the German-Americans, whose parents might have only emigrated a couple of decades before to the USA and would no doubt still speak, act, and live 'German' at home and within their community. No doubt the heart strings were pulled when the Vaterland was mobilising, especially at that time the US had no involvement in the war, so who knows how many made the trip across the atlantic to offer their services.



SHJ

I do not think that particular feeling would affect many. Before Pearl Harbour the Germans were winning the war so they didn't need to bother.

Then Germany declared war on th USA.

Mr Cyflyer, not entirely so. One combatant I knew personally was found not guilty, spent a year in solitary anyway, and then released.

But on with the thread: there was an american pilot who made a dash for the german side in a Lightning, having claimed it needed a test-flight. Po valley, if memory serves? Subsequently charged with treason, I believe.

Ah, apologies Mr Cyflyer, you specified german-americans. The gentleman I speak of was german, though fluent in english. I'll read more carefully next time.

In Australia, at the outbreak of both wars, many of German origin, even some who were naturalised, were interred. Among the public at large the xenophobia directed at anyone with even a slightly Germanic name was insane. Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger, who in the Second World War held substantive rank in the RAAF spoke of it to his biographer.

I seem to remember in the South African Air Force Museum in Cape Town there was a tribute to those South Africans who had fought for the RAF and another for those who had fought in the Luftwaffe.

I was also told of two brothers from Holland, one became a decorated fighter pilot in the RAF whilst the other became a highly decorated soldier in the Waffen SS in Russia.

Life, it seems isn't always that simple!

2nd Lt. Martin Monti

I/C

I would suggest that with the Americans being halfway up the Italian peninsular it was a damned stupid time to change sides.

If it was proven that his propaganda activities had resulted in the deaths of Americans then he probably, and rightly, would have been executed. Look at what happened to Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce). He dangled.

The American branch of the "Volksdeutsche", "Volksdeuctscher" or similar....

I've never seen any record as to the numbers, or of any specific units set up to accommodate them. FWIW there's a brief mention of them in the TV series of "Bad of Brothers".

Was an American co-belligerent component of the German Air Force required?
 

For some reason this thread reminds me of the characteristically cynical German observation during the "Second Great Misunderstanding":
" When the R.A.F flies , the Luftwaffe heads for their bunkers.
When the Luftwaffe flies, the R.A.F. heads for their bunkers."



"But when the United States Army Air Force flies, everybody heads for their bunkers."