Rybin, Y. Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck researched / Christer Bergstrom, Yuriy Rybin. - Sweden : [s. l.], 2019. - 190 p. : ill.

WALTER SCHUCK Unteroffizier Walter Schuck after completing his term at Jagdfliegerschule 1. as an instructor at JFS 1 in Werneuchen, he returned to first-line service with JG 53 “Pik As”. Eventually, Quaet-Faslem would rack up 49 victories before he in 1944 was killed in a flight accident, after which he was posthumously awarded with the Knight’s Cross. On this 18 June 1940, Oberfeldwebel Hope saw the group of fighter pilot students on the ground below, and he knew that Oberleutnant Quaet-Faslem had brought them to the airfield to watch Hope’s aerobatics. If he could only get rid of that stupid Gefreiter! Again, Hope waved his hand at his wingman, but in vain. Hope realised that the Gefreiter would not voluntar­ ily let go of him, so he decided to shake him off. He tried to break away, but to his amazement the rookie remained close to him as attached by an invisible string. Hope made new manoeuvres, but all the time the rookie remained in place with his aircraft. After a series of aerobatic manoeuvres which he made only because he was so furious - in his normal senses, Hope would have realised that such aerobatics could not be performed in formation flight unless both pilots were extremely skil­ ful - Hope decided to land. When Schuck taxied in to the parking grounds, Hope had already left his plane and was running towards Schuck with a wild look in his eyes. “You lunatic!” Hope yelled before Schuck had even climbed out of his cockpit. “You tried to kill me! I will have you discharged, and I will have you punished for this!” Walter Schuck with life vest at JG 3 s Erganzungsstaf- fel. Schuck was soaking with sweat and shivering with exhaustion after the severe ordeal to maintain his posi­ tion behind his leader. Now this dressing down came as a cold shower. What none of them knew was that while they had made their aerobatics in the air, with Schuck skilfully clinging to the tail of Hope’s plane, Oberleutnant Quaet- Faslem had pointed at the two planes and told his fighter pilot students: “Study those two aircraft. They are flown by two very experienced trainers. When you are able to fly like that, you are more than fit to go to the front!” By now, Quaet-Faslem heard Hope’s yelling at some distance, and left the fighter pilot students standing and walked over to the two “very experienced trainers”. ''‘Oberfeldwebel, what is up? Why are you yelling at your colleague?” Quaet-Faslem asked. “Herr O b e rleu tn a n t Hope said and turned towards his superior: “This is not my colleague! This is a rash rookie who arrived only the day before yesterday! I gave him clear signs to break off, but he refused, and he almost had me killed! I have his papers and will arrange for his discharge!” “But we can’t do that,” said Quaet-Faslem. “I have already told the new pilot students to watch and learn from the flight show you two made. And besides, we can’t afford to lose such a talented pilot as this Gefre- ite r r T