Famous quotes or sayings of WW1 fighter pilots

Willi Von Klugerman · 2 November 2009, 05:53 PM

My favorite quote!

"A glorious death!
fight on and fly on to the last drop of blood
and the last drop of petrol
-to the last beat of the heart and the last kick of the motor;
a death for a knight
-a toast for his fellows,friends and foe."

MVR,refering to a B.E.2c that was flying with a dead crew

Gregvan · 2 November 2009, 06:37 PM

"The German aviator is disciplined, resolute and brave, and is a foeman worthy of our best...The more I fight them the more I respect them for their fighting qualities...The marvellous fight which Voss put up against my formation will ever leave in my mind a most profound admiration for him, and the other instances which I have witnessed of the skill and bravery of German pilots give me pause to acknowledge that the German aviators as a whole are worthy of the very best which the Allies can find to combat them."
_Major James T.B. McCudden, RFC

"There are people who claim Guynemer had a stoppage himself then. Others claim he feared I might ram him in desperation. But I don't believe any of them. I still believe to this day that a bit of chivalry from the past has continued to survive. For this reason I lay this belated wreath on Guynemer's unknown grave."
- Ernst Udet, describing the fight in which he was spared by Guynemer after his guns jammed

Gregvan · 2 November 2009, 07:09 PM

"Here, always good weather, but this morning the haze allowed me to go to mass, and this evening I surely expect to kill a Hun. Officially my eleventh."
-René Dorme, writing to his parents on 25 Sept. 1916

"I murdered him in cold blood, by surprise; and I sent ten rounds into its arse at a range of less than ten meters, under his tail. The devil take his soul!"
René Dorme, describing his victory of 24 April 1917 to his parents

"The swine are better off dead. No prisoners for me!"
- Edward Mannock to 'Grid' Caldwell, after Caldwell took him to task for shooting up the crew of a downed German two-seater on the ground.

mustang · 2 November 2009, 07:56 PM

" I believe in total solutions. If they go down in flames they are not there when you go up again next morning"
Ex Battle of Britain pilot at my fighter school late WW2.

Mustang

crankcase · 2 November 2009, 11:18 PM

"My dear Excellency! I have not gone to war in order to collect cheese and eggs, but for another purpose."
(»Liebe Exzellenz, ich bin nicht in den Krieg gezogen, um Käse und Eier zu sammeln, sondern zu einem anderen Zweck.«)
MvRichthofen, in applying for a transfer to the air service

se5a12 · 2 November 2009, 11:39 PM

How about Rudolf Berhold who said once afer being shot down and immediatelly getting back into another aircraft "I would rather die like a man then live like a fagot"

FliegerJG1 · 3 November 2009, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang

" I believe in total solutions. If they go down in flames they are not there when you go up again next morning"
Ex Battle of Britain pilot at my fighter school late WW2.

Mustang

Quite pragmatic! Sad but true.

JohnReid · 3 November 2009, 08:19 AM

Thanks Al!

JohnReid · 3 November 2009, 06:15 PM

JohnReid · 3 November 2009, 07:13 PM

For my buds on the drome
I can't believe it but I am getting requests for these.
If any of you guys would like a signed picture or poster ,make a copy from my photobucket(see Posters album) and send it to me and I will send it back to you.Please include a self addressed stamped envelope.PM me for my postal address.Merry Christmas!
Cheers! John.