Germany's New Air Force

[Dave Homewood]

In this thread we learned about the newly revived Japanese Air Force. So I thought it would also be interesting to look at the revival of the Luftwaffe after WWII.

This is from THE PRESS, 7 FEBRUARY 1953

BRITISH HELP TO NEW LUFTWAFFE



(Rec. 8 pm.) LONDON, February 6.

A new German Luftwaffe of 1300 planes and 80,000 men — many of whom Britain has offered to train — is planned for the European Army, says the “Daily Telegraph.”

Britain has also offered to train German Army officers. Pilots and other air crew will train at Royal Air Force schools, German squadrons will serve with Royal Air Force wings, and German officers will attend the British Staff College.

[Dave Homewood]

From THE PRESS, 28 APRIL 1953

WEST GERMANY’S AIR FORCE

Working Plans For New Luftwaffe

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 27.

Five German officers, the eldest of whom is 47, are planning a new Luftwaffe for western Germany — an Air Force which would have 1326 planes and 80,000 men, according to the May issue of the "Royal Air Force Review.”

“These five officers have the top jobs in the shadow high command which has been laying plans for the last year in Bonn. Their work is all on paper as the 'go ahead’ signal to start building the air force cannot be given until the European Defence Community Treaty is signed.

“In charge of the Air Planning Staff is Colonel Richard Heuser, who was Chief of Staff to the 4th German Air Force at the war’s end.

"Colonel Heuser is quoted as saying that the German air contingent will consist of 20 wings — four of day fighters, two of all-weather fighters, 10 of fighter-bombers, two of reconnaissance, and two of transports.

“Each wing will be under a German officer but the wings will be split up and placed in a number of international tactical groups under commanders — French, Belgian, Dutch and German - appointed by the European General Staff.”

[Dave Homewood]

From THE PRESS, 6 January 1956

AIR FORCE FOR WEST GERMANY

EQUIPMENT WITH U.S. FIGHTERS

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 pm) LONDON. January 5.

West Germany’s new Luftwaffe is to be equipped with American F100 supersonic jet fighters, according to Defence Ministry officials quoted by the Associated Press in Bonn.

The Luftwaffe will first get F86 Sabre jets.

German pilots already training in the United States bases in South Germany. It is expected that 600 pilots will complete flying training by the autumn of this year.

There will be 1200 Jet fighters and fighter bombers in squadrons of 75 aircraft, two reconnaissance squadrons of 54 planes each and two transport squadrons of 48 aircraft each.

[Dave Homewood]

From THE PRESS, 6 FEBRUARY 1956

New German Air Force — Within three years, the German Air Force will have 100,000 highly-trained men, according to the “Daily Express” today. The paper was quoting the Defence Ministry's Luftwaffe chief, Colonel Panitzki. Germany has decided to buy Hawker Hunters for the new Luftwaffe. —London, February 3.

[Dave Homewood]

THE PRESS, 31 JANUARY 1958

German Jet Fighter Planned

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 30

Designers of Germany’s war planes — Dr. Willi Messerschmitt and Dr. Ernest Heinkel — expect to produce a jet interceptor fighter for the new Luftwaffe, according to a Bonn correspondent of the “Daily Express”. They have formed a development company and been told that the West German Defence budget can be stretched to cover its working programme. The “Daily Telegraph” said it was understood the company hoped to interest the Defence Ministry in a projected vertical take-off rocket-propelled fighter. It would be an advance on the British S.R.177 which was recently rejected by West Germany.

[Dave Homewood]

AMERICAN FIGHTERS FOR WEST GERMAN AIR FORCE.— A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter with the markings of the new Luftwaffe. The West German Government has contracted to buy 96 of these aircraft, and it is expected that deliveries from the United States will begin at the end of this year. In addition, about 200 Starfighters will be made in West Germany by the Sud-Gruppe, which includes Dornier, Messerschmidt and Heinkel.
PRESS, 8 APRIL 1959

[oj]

According to what I have read some years ago, it was an acceptable emergency practice to windmill-start one Starfighter using the jet efflux of another.
Can anyone verify that?