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Among the greatest Luftwaffe fighter
pilots, one young ace, Hans-Joachim Marseille, achieved almost
legendary status. He began to shine during the Battle of Britain,
but it was later when flying with JG27 over the burning wastes
of North Afrika that he suddenly transformed into a formidable
marksman, earning the title 'The Star of Afrika'. Flying in support
of Rommel's famed 'Afrika Korps', in their fierce battle for
the desert, he quickly became a master of flying the Messerschmitt
Bf109F. Other pilots were amazed at his ability to handle the
aircraft while 'deflection shooting'; firing whilst in a turn,
almost at a stall and using only short bursts of fire to bring
down his opponent. Marseille eventually rose to become the highest
scoring ace against the Western Allies and was awarded the Knight's
Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. On one day alone,
the 1st September 1942, he shot down seventeen Allied aircraft
including eight in just ten minutes. On the 26th September 1942,
he scored his 158th and final victory against a Spitfire. Four
days later, when flying a brand new Bf109G, smoke began to appear
from the engine. Marseille managed to fly the stricken aircraft
back over German-held territory and elected to bail out. In doing
so he struck the tail and fell to his death. He was just 22 years
old. Adolf Galland described Hans-Joachim Marseille as ''the
unequalled virtuoso of all fighter pilots'' |