1. Walter "Gulle" Oesau was a German fighter pilot during World War II.
43 Facts About Walter Oesau
1. 2.
Walter Oesau rose to command Jagdgeschwader 1, which was named in his honor after his death.
3.
Walter Oesau served with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War with the Jagdgruppe 88.
4.
Walter Oesau claimed nine aircraft during the campaign, becoming one of only 28 people to earn the award of the Spanish Cross in Gold and Diamonds.
5.
At the start of World War II, Oesau was given command of a fighter group within Jagdgeschwader 20.
6.
Walter Oesau returned to operations as commander of Jagdgeschwader 1.
7.
Walter Oesau was killed in action on 11 May 1944 aged 30.
8.
Walter "Gulle" Oesau was born to a bank director in Farnewinkel near Meldorf, Germany on 28 June 1913.
9.
Walter Oesau joined the German Army in October 1933 and served in the Second Artillery Regiment as an enlisted soldier.
10.
Walter Oesau started his operational career with the Condor Legion, along with future contemporary aces such as Werner Molders and Adolf Galland.
11.
The Staffel, commanded by Werner Molders, took part in the Spanish Civil War where Walter Oesau claimed nine victories, flying 130 combat missions.
12.
Walter Oesau was wounded in this conflict which earned him the Spanish Wound Badge.
13.
Walter Oesau received the Medalla de la Campana and the Medalla Militar.
14.
Walter Oesau got his first World War II victory during the Battle of France on 13 May 1940, when he claimed a French Curtiss P-36 Hawk over Halsteren in the Netherlands, earning him the Iron Cross 1st class.
15.
Walter Oesau was credited with one Defiant, taking his score to 19.
16.
Walter Oesau was the first one of JG 51 to reach double digits in World War II.
17.
On 24 August 1940, Trautloft took over as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 54, and Walter Oesau replaced him as Gruppenkommandeur of III.
18.
On 10 November 1940, Walter Oesau succeeded Wilhelm Balthasar as Gruppenkommandeur of III.
19.
That day, Oesau shot down the Hurricane piloted by Sergeant H D Denchfield from No 610 Squadron over Desvres, France.
20.
Walter Oesau was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves next day.
21.
However, Walter Oesau disliked the Bf 109F and kept flying his 'Emils' for some time.
22.
Walter Oesau shot down his first Soviet aircraft on 24 June, and by 30 June 1941 had reached his 60th victory, downing a Tupolev SB bomber.
23.
On 10 July 1941, Walter Oesau claimed 5 more aircraft and two more kills by 11 July 1941.
24.
Walter Oesau became the third pilot to reach 80 victories, the 80th kill an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber.
25.
Walter Oesau was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on same day.
26.
Walter Oesau was the third person to earn the Swords.
27.
Walter Oesau was again then wounded, receiving heavy splinter injuries in face and knee.
28.
Walter Oesau succeeded Balthasar for the second time as JG 2 commander, who had died in combat with Spitfires over northern France when he pulled the tail off his Bf 109F in a dive.
29.
On 10 August 1941 Walter Oesau claimed a Spitfire for his first kill with JG 2.
30.
Walter Oesau claimed his 100th kill on 26 October 1941, the third pilot to do so.
31.
Walter Oesau was then grounded from flying on operations, as his experience and leadership qualities were regarded as too valuable to risk further in front line combat.
32.
Shortly before his 30th birthday, Walter Oesau was elevated to a series of Luftwaffe staff and administration positions.
33.
Walter Oesau was awarded the Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in gold and diamonds on 17 October 1943.
34.
Walter Oesau was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 10 January 1944.
35.
Walter Oesau added several victories over American heavy bombers in the first five months of 1944.
36.
Walter Oesau's body was thrown clear of the aircraft some yards away.
37.
Walter Oesau had a total of 127 kills gained over 300 missions.
38.
Walter Oesau is buried in Meldorf, close to his birthplace and the town museum has documented his last journey in pictures.
39.
Johannes Steinhoff, the high-ranking Luftwaffe ace who went on to become the Chief of Staff for Allied Air Forces in Central Europe, once said: "Walter Gulle Oesau was the toughest fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe".
40.
Walter Oesau perceived a lack of aggressiveness in the Jagdgeschwader leadership.
41.
However, Walter Oesau was one of the outstanding leaders ever produced by Luftwaffe fighter wings with the likes of Werner Molders and Adolf Galland.
42.
Walter Oesau had good sense of humor and liked to spend time with his friends.
43.
Walter Oesau was a simple man, who did not display any flamboyant personal emblems on his aircraft.