Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 3977403, member: 76965"]John I think you'll find the reason was that they were deployed mainly on the Eastern Front where they did not rate the Russian pilots or tank corps as having the same equipment or skills as their counterparts on the Western Front. Hence Hans-Joachim Marseille with 158 kills was considered the top German air ace as most of his victories came against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force while he was attached to the Afrika Korps (Africa Corps). It is recorded that while on a lone reconnaissance sortie he attacked a squadron of 12 Mosquito fighters and shot down 8 before the remaining aircraft flew to safety in close formation. He died when his ME109F caught fire, the engines were prone to overheating, and he either hit the tail when bailing out or his parachute got entangled with the tail of the aircraft. Not a way for any hero to die. There were heroes, honourable individuals and gallant men on both sides as there were cowards, traitors, dishonourable and despicable individuals. The medals were awarded for the acts of bravery of individuals who fought for and perhaps gave the biggest sacrifice for their country, while not necessarily believing certain twisted ideologies.[/QUOTE]