Description: Luftwaffe Ace Hans Joachim Marseille 158 Victories This is a nice reproduction of an original WWII photograph show German Luftwaffe Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille getting out of the cockpit of his Bf109 fighter after a successful sortie in North Africa. Great photo!! Size of photo is about 4 1/2" x 5 1/2". Hans-Joachim Marseille (13 December 1919 – 30 September 1942; German pronunciation: [hants joˈaχɪm mɑrˈseɪ]) was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his Bohemian lifestyle. One of the most successful fighter pilots, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa". Marseille claimed all but seven of his "official" 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career. No other pilot claimed as many Western Allied aircraft as Marseille.[1] Marseille, of French Huguenot ancestry, joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. At the age of 20 he graduated from one of the Luftwaffe's fighter pilot schools just in time to participate in the Battle of Britain, without notable success. A charming person, he had such a busy night life that sometimes he was too tired to be allowed to fly the next morning. As a result, he was transferred to another unit, which relocated to North Africa in April 1941. Under the guidance of his new commander, who recognised the latent potential in the young officer, Marseille quickly developed his abilities as a fighter pilot. He reached the zenith of his fighter pilot career on 1 September 1942, when during the course of three combat sorties he claimed 17 fighters shot down, earning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Only 29 days later, Marseille was killed in a flying accident, when he was forced to abandon his fighter due to engine failure. After he exited the smoke-filled cockpit, Marseille's chest struck the vertical stabiliser of his aircraft. The blow either killed him instantly or incapacitated him so that he was unable to open his parachute. Click Here to Receive My E-mail Newsletters!! Be sure to add me to your favorites list! World War Two Photos - Keeping the Memories Alive See my other auctions for more interesting and unusual items!!! Fast Shipping!!! Visit My eBay Store: World War 2 Photos and Collectibles 6148
Price: 6.49 USD
Location: Meridian, Idaho
End Time: 2024-11-18T04:22:33.000Z
Shipping Cost: 1.55 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Original/Reproduction: Reproduction
Type: Photograph
Conflict: WW II (1939-45)
