Military Review English Edition March-April 2015 | Page 142

1942. Ironically, he died not as a result of military
action but rather from an accident involving his
aircraft. Refreshingly, and unlike many biographies,
the approach taken by the authors focuses almost
exclusively upon his time as a pilot in the Luftwaffe.
The antithesis of the German officer, he was a
brash, egotistical womanizer, who was transferred
from unit to unit due to his individuality, lack
of discipline, and dismissiveness of protocol and
tradition. Finally finding a home in Africa with
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika ( JG-27), he honed his
skills and gradually grew from a loner and outsider
to the darling of the Reich. When he died, he had
158 confirmed kills and was one of the very few recipients of the Knight’s Cross with Diamonds—but
he had not lost his rebellious streak.
The authors draw upon first-person anecdotes
and interviews with many of his former commanders and colleagues, thereby adding a rarely enjoyed
level of insight and intimacy. The challenges of
commanding Mars