THE SKIES OF WORLD WAR II bore witness to a fierce contest of aviation prowess, where legendary aircraft battled for aerial dominance. Amidst this maelstrom, the Messerschmitt Me 109 soared above its rivals, etching its name in the annals of history. With its sleek design, blistering speed, and lethal armament, the Me 109 became the backbone of the German Luftwaffe, captivating the world with its thrilling performance. Here, three Me 109 aces share firsthand accounts of the unique challenges and exhilaration they experienced in the cockpit of this iconic fighter.
Green Heart envy
BY NORBERT HANNIG, LUFTWAFFE LT. COLONEL (RET.)
It was during my initial flight training in early 1942, after performing loops, rolls, and Immelmann turns, that I knew I wanted to fly fighters for the Luftwaffe. I was granted my wish in December of 1942, when I was sent to No.1 Fighter School at Werneuchen near Berlin. My instructors were all hightime fighter pilots, many of them gaining their experience on the Russian front. One instructor, Maj. Hannes Trautloft, stood out from the rest. He had seen action on the Russian front with Jagdgeschwader (JG) 54, also known as the Green Hearts. What struck me the most, though, was his concern for his fellow men and the camaraderie they developed as they relied on each other day in and day out. From that day forward, I was determined and focused to someday fly with JG 54 on the Russian Front. But first I had to master the squirrely Me 109.
The 109 was a very tricky aircraft, and you had to fly it with smoothness and great finesse, mostly because of its narrow landing gear. We were told time and time again to advance the throttle slowly, and to always keep the nose pointed straight down the runway using mostly right rudder. I must confess there were times in training that I thought I was going to push the right rudder pedal through the cabin floor as I
