Fighter Pilots Conspiracy

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The Fighter Pilots Conspiracy Legend refers to the not well documented verbal rebellion of the leading officers of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the incompetence of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, or OKW).

1 Background
2 Meeting with Göring
3 Outcome
4 Participants
5 See also
6 References
7 Unverified External links

[edit] Background

By 1944, the Luftwaffe had lost the air war over Europe. Hermann Göring, Marshal of the Nation (Reichsmarschall) and Chief of the German Air Force, accused and blamed the fighter pilots for the bombing of Germany and the losing of the war. All of the senior Luftwaffe Commodores (Kommodores) brought their concerns to Adolf Galland, Commander of Germany's Fighter Force (General der Jagdflieger).

[edit] Meeting with Göring

Galland arranged for a meeting with Göring. However, Galland was not invited to this meeting. Instead, he was kept informed of the proceedings by Hannes Trautloft. The group of the most decorated and valiant Luftwaffe leaders, led by spokesman Günther Lützow, confronted Göring with a list of demands for the survival of their service. Their main concern was the Reichsmarschall's lack of understanding and unwillingness to support his pilots against accusations of cowardice and treason, which existed since the Battle of Britain.

[edit] Outcome

The outcome was devastating. In 1945, blamed by German dictator Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring for the collapse of Germany's air defense against Anglo-American bombing raids, Adolf Galland was relieved of his command. Johannes Steinhoff was threatened with court-martial and sent to Italy, and Göring told Günther Lützow that he was going to be shot for high treason. Similar penalties were imposed upon others in the so called "mutiny". Subsequently Gordon Gollob was appointed General der Jagerflieger.

Adolf Galland was given the opportunity to form his own elite JV 44 flying the Messerschmitt Me 262. Galland was wounded in combat and Steinhoff severely burned in a takeoff accident before the end of the war. Günther Lützow was killed in action on 24 April 1945.

[edit] Participants

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Johannes Steinhoff (1195), In letzter Stunde - Verschwörung der Jagdflieger. List Verlag ISBN 3-471-78819-0
J.Constable and R.F.Toliver, "Horrido!" Arthur Barker LTD London (1968)
Dr.Kurt Braatz, "Gott oder ein Flugzeug" - Leben u. Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow - ISBN 3-9807935-6-7 NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag 85360 Moosburg Germany (2005)