My Friend George the Stuka Pilot
 

A story from another era. The Stuka was the name of the German designed Junkers 87, a single engine gull-wing dive bomber first used in the Spanish Civil War. It was later used by the Germans in WW2 and characterised by a screaming siren installed under one wing which made a terrifying noise as the Stuka went into its steep dive before releasing its bomb. The mention in the story of a Messerschmitt 109 related to a single engine German fighter also used throughout WW2.

https://airfactsjournal.com/2011/10/...e-stuka-pilot/

When ever the Stuka gets a mention so must Hans-Ulrich Rudel, flew 2,530 combat missions on the Eastern Front of World War II. The majority of these were undertaken while flying the Junkers Ju 87, although 430 were flown in ground-attack variants of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. He was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, severely damaging the battleship Marat, as well as sinking a cruiser (incomplete and heavily damaged Petropavlovsk), a destroyer (Leningrad-class destroyer Minsk) and 70 landing craft. Rudel also claimed to have destroyed more than 800 vehicles of all types, over 150 artillery, anti-tank or anti-aircraft positions, 4 armored trains, as well as numerous bridges and supply lines. Rudel was also credited with 51 aerial victories, 42 of which were fighter aircraft and 7 Ilyushin Il-2s. He was shot down or forced to land 30 times due to anti-aircraft artillery, was wounded five times and rescued six stranded aircrew from enemy-held territory, he was the most decorated German serviceman as sole recipient of the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

There is a very good book he wrote devoted to his career, simply titled "Stuka Pilot".

I read Stuka Pilot.
Huge respect to this airman.

Gee, that ending came out of nowhere, what a shame, he sounded proud as punch to be flying.

Have it stacked away in my 'Library' somewhere. Damn good read!:ok:

Unfortunately his post war activities as an unrepentant nazi diminish his stature as an undoubtedly brave man, in my opinion.

I imagine you'd have to be some sort of fanatic to achieve those results.

Just to steer people in the right direction, the opening link has nothing to do with German Stuka aces. Its about a story of Sgt George Petru an RAAF reservist pilot in Darwin in the early 1950's.

.. who's friend was a Stuka pilot.

:D

I wasn't aware of that, but agree wholeheartedly.

Rudel's legacy lives on in the form of the A-10 Thunderbolt, for it was designed around the lessons the design team gleaned from his book.

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/...eculiar-birth/

So much and great respect to this man! My salute to you!

R I P George Petru ...great story. Thanks again.