Exceptional Women In Luftwaffe Aviation.

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schwerepanzer
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Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 5:48 pm

Exceptional Women In Luftwaffe Aviation.

Post by schwerepanzer »

In Germany despite the early and extensive use of women in a variety of support roles in the Luftwaffe's female auxillary organization, women pilots were not utilised except on individual and exceptional circumstances.
One of these exceptions in paticular was an notable individual; Melitta Gräfin Schenk von Stauffenberg ( born 9th January, 1903). Countess Stauffenberg had earned a degree in aeronautical engineering and was employed by the German Institute for Aviation Testing, (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftahrt).
Whilst working as an engineer she earned her pilots license. She became the ONLY woman in Germany to obtain licenses to fly ALL classes of aircraft, powered or unpowered. This lady was instrumental in developing an auto pilot for German long distant flying boats, exceptionally awkward aircraft to fly.
During the war she was conscripted to the Luftwaffe, were she was reponsible for improving the bomb aiming sight for the Ju87 "Stuka" and Ju88 dive bomber types. To perform her duties and test her ideas and settings, she made more than 2,500 test dives from 4,000m to 1,000m. She sometimes flew as many as 15 test missions per day, an extemely demanding physical achievevment, of which has never been equalled or surpassed, up to today by anyone. This lady was unfortunately shot down and killed by an American fighter,on 8th April, 1945 whilst delivering a Bücher Bü 181 Bestmann to Southern Germany. She was 42 yrs old.
No ideaological bigotry should deny Countess Stauffenberg recognition as an outstanding pilot; it was her some of her family that gave their lives in the coup of 20th July, 1944 against Hitler, one of them was Claus, he laid the bomb in Hitlers HQ. She knew of the plot to kill Hitler and her families involvement in it. Claus asked her to fly out of Germany and get away. She said she was loyal to Germany and the Luftwaffe, not Hitler and the Nazi's and had to stay. After the July plot she was arrested but then released on 2nd September,1944. Not enough evidence to link her to the plot (as though that bothered the Nazi's) but more so, her work was needed.
They are coming to take me away ,Ha , Ha.
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