Major hannes trautloft biography

Hannes Trautloft - Biography

My military training began in secret. As a disguised 19 year old Officer Cadet, I began flying training in April 1931, in a training division based at Schleissheim near Munich. After a year’s training, where I flew several single-engined types, including Albatros biplanes, I was sent to Russia, with 9 others from my course, for pre-military fighter pilot training. This top secret training was conducted by German instructors using a selection of biplanes, including the famous Fokker D VII.

I officially became a soldier on 15 October 1932, to train as an infantry officer. I received “civilian” refresher flying courses during my leave and later, as a disguised Lieutenant, spent two years as an instructor at the Fighter Pilots’ School, flying the Arado 64 and 65.

In March 1936, after taking part in the occupation of the Rheinland, I became one of six ‘civilian volunteer instructors’ in Spain. Later, in the uniformed Legion Condor, I flew operations in the Heinkel 51 and achieved my first aerial victory over a “Breguet” bomber in 1

•