Mein Flugbuch are the memoirs of the third highest-scoring fighter ace in history, Günther Rall.
Memoirs are considerably more than recollections put to paper. What’s more, they are more than journalistically composed genuine stories. Memoirs are comprised of two important elements: scene (the story) and reflection. Without reflection, you don’t have a “memoir” — you have an arrangement of vignettes that decribes occasions, but does not permeate the occasions with significance and relevance.
Significance and relevance originate from reflection. A deeper form of reflection, however, is informed by research. And by “research,” I mean any form of inquiry that helps you increase your understanding of what happened.
Günther Rall, a veteran of the Eastern Front, was moved west in 1944 to confront Anglo-American airpower.
On 12 May, a flight of three allies fighterplanes jumped his Me109 as he flew a patrol over the homeland. In a stunning presentation of aerobatics, he shot down two of the three attacking airplanes, including the ace leader of the U.S. 56th Fighter Group, Zemke, yet when more fighterplanes showed up, he found himself up in the battle of his life.
After he lost his thumb by a bullet impact, Rall unfastened his seat belt and jumped. He never returned to battle again. The German high command was frightful that his death in fight would have a debilitatingly effect on morale.
In February 1945, months before the end of the war, he took command of another fighter squad, however he spent the greater part of his energy in the attempt to spare his pilots from unnecessary operations. In spite of his nonappearance on the aerial battleground for almost a year, he finished the war as the No. 3 Ace in the Luftwaffe, with 275 enemy planes brought down in combat.
He served with the post-war “Luftwaffe der Bundeswehr”, in the long run achieving the rank of general. He passed on 4 October 2009.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (23 May 1940)
- 1st Class (July 1940)
- Wound Badge (1939) in Gold
- Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
- “Crete” Cuffband
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold with penant “600”
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 17 November 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot
- German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52
- Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight’s Cross on 3 September 1942 as Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52
- 134th Oak Leaves on 26 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52
- 34th Swords on 12 September 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur in the III./Jagdgeschwader 52
- Two named references in the Wehrmachtbericht (29 August 1943 and 30 November 1943)
- Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1973)
