Armed pilots?

[ElAurens]

Originally Posted by Kongo-Otto

Well yes and no, some Flying personnel (specially on Bombers)had the Pistole 08 aka Luger, but i have never seen a Picture of a Pilot with a P-38, many had also smaller side arms like the Walther PPK or Mauser HSC also yery common was the use of side arms like the Czechoslovakian CZ 24, 27, or CZ 38, the Spanish Astra 300 or the French Unique 17 or the MAB (Manufacture D´Armes Des Bayonne) Model D or the Italian Beretta Model 1934.
The smaller the side arm was the more likely it was used as a side arm for flying personell.
Those side arms with German Waffenamts Markings today are desired collectors items.

Thanks for the info!

I can understand why they would prefer the smaller pistols, by and large chambered in 32 ACP (7.65 Browning), over the large P38 or even the Luger. And it's really sort of a morale booster anyway, as we all know, a handgun will loose almost every time to a man with a rifle.