The Battle of Britain Was The First Defeat For The German Luftwaffe.

[MD_Titus]

Originally Posted by MB_Avro_UK

Hi all,

You know what's not been mentioned so far? And it's a positive.

Neither side shot at parachuting airmen. There was some sort of mutual respect.

Any examples?

Perhaps 'Total War' was not part of the language then?

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

not quite the case from what i read.

there were isolated instances, one where an RAF pilot came down after being machine gunned on his chute which was witnessed by a comrade, and another where a polish pilot shot at a luftwaffe pilot on his chute. emphasis on "isolated" though, as well as being unclear if they were actually hit intentionally, or simply hit by some of the stray lead that you are exposed to if falling through a battlespace.

stereotypically speaking (dangerous i know) our czech and polish pilots were a tad more bloodthirsty than the british ones. but generally it wasn't in the slightest "necessary" if the german pilots were bailing over UK territory - captured anyway - but there was always a certain level of surprise that the german pilots didn't do it, some sections even feeling they would have been within their rights to do so. one quote went so far as to say that he would've been a legitimate target on the end of his parachute, because that parachuting pilot could be back in the air by tea time.

i would guess it's an element of self-preservation in it though - you never know when you'll be dangling helpless in the middle of an air battle.


also coming down in teh channel was very dangerous. the north sea even more so - very very few pilots were pulled out of there.