Reinhard Heydrich pilot?

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Wladimir
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Reinhard Heydrich pilot?

#1

Post by Wladimir » 18 Dec 2002, 00:50

Is it true, that Reinchard Heydrich was Me 110 pilot in the campaign against Norway and Russia? :roll:

Ken Jasper
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#2

Post by Ken Jasper » 18 Dec 2002, 01:14

I believe he was a Reserve Major in the Luftwaffe and flew the Me-109.


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Matt Gibbs
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Indeed

#3

Post by Matt Gibbs » 18 Dec 2002, 11:23

He was awarded the Frontflugspange in Bronze and Silver. After being shot down and rescued on the Russian front he was finally forbidden to fly by Hitler. He had previously been told to stop flying in a letter from Himmler but this had not deterred him. He was keenly interested in flying and learned to fly through lessons with his personal pilot whom he asked to teach him. He purchased his own plane and rented some land close to his home to use as a private airstrip. He could apparently be seen cycling along th elanes to and from the airstrip in pre war days when visiting by air!

Regards

Matt Gibbs

varjag
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#4

Post by varjag » 18 Dec 2002, 14:16

Matt Gibbs - I knew that he was a pilot.But when was he shot down?In what - by what? I thought he was much too busy and much to 'valuable bloodstock' to be flipping around the Eastern Front trying to prove his manhood.

tonyh
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#5

Post by tonyh » 18 Dec 2002, 14:35

He flew some missions with JG1. He flew an ME109E.

Tony

Peter
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#6

Post by Peter » 18 Dec 2002, 20:07

Guys

SUPERB coverage in Ulric of England's Heydrich Vol.2 photos of him in flying kit, in his Bf109 with SS runic markings on fuselage, in luftwaffe uniform in front of his aircraft.

He also flew a Bf110 over England & Scotland, almost hit a shot up aircraft when landing in Norway and broke his arm.

Apparently Hitler flipped when he saw his Bronze Fighter Clasp change to silver and his EK1.

cheers
Pete

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Phil V
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#7

Post by Phil V » 25 Dec 2002, 16:16

Heydrich was a keen civilian pilot prior to the war. During 1939 he flew missions as a gunner in Bombers. He qualified as a fighter pilot shortly after and flew a fighter plane during the Norway invasion (1940). After the Norway campagin he flew numerous reconnaissance flights over England and Scotland taking photos from a photo equipped plane. He flew more reconnaissance flights during the Russian Campaign, for which he received the Iron Cross (Ist Class) and Operational Flying Cross (Recon).

He flew mssions in the following :
BF-109E, GF-110 and Bombers.
(I don't know what these are as I am not educated in the aircraft of the Luftwaffe).

He held the following ranks / designations in relation to this flying :
- Gunner with Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) in 1939.
- Oberleutnant der Reserve and Adjutant of Jagdgeschwader 77 in 1940
- Major der Reserve duirng the Russian Campaign

He stopped flying after he received orders from Hitler forbidding him.

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Requin Marteau
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#8

Post by Requin Marteau » 26 Dec 2002, 11:29

Max Brandt wrote: He held the following ranks / designations in relation to this flying :
- Gunner with Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) in 1939.
- Oberleutnant der Reserve and Adjutant of Jagdgeschwader 77 in 1940
- Major der Reserve duirng the Russian Campaign
Heydrich was gunner with KG 55 in Poland, 1st mission on 12 September 1939,
and Adjutant III/JG 77 in Norway.

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#9

Post by Peter » 26 Dec 2002, 11:46

Excellent piece of detail Requin,
thank you
Pete

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Marcus
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#10

Post by Marcus » 26 Dec 2002, 13:16

You might also want to take a look at this thread: http://www.thirdreichforum.com/phpBB2/v ... php?t=6867

/Marcus

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hohenstaufen
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#11

Post by hohenstaufen » 26 Dec 2002, 15:44

In the book Defenders of the Reich Jagdgeschwader 1 Volume 1 by Eric Mombeek on page 32 there are two photographs of Heydrich in Luftwaffe uniform and a colour profile of Heydrich's Bf 109E which is believed to have flown whilst serving with I./JG1 in the summer of 1941.Worth checking out.

Arthur Von Pohle
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I think Heydrich flew to the Wannsee conference.

#12

Post by Arthur Von Pohle » 06 Jan 2003, 06:59

Normally I don't take my history lessons from an HBO film a film produced by HBO, "Conspiracy" , depicted Heydrich flying into the conference while others came by car.

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Jadeah2003
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Reinhard Heydrich, The Pilot

#13

Post by Jadeah2003 » 22 Jan 2003, 01:15

:idea: Reinhard Heydrich, The Pilot :idea:

From all accounts that I have read Heydrich did have a brief stint as a pilot in the Luftwaffe. Also, aviation was one of his hobbies so I would not be surprised if he did. Now to the truth of wheter of not he was shot down I don't know.

:) and How did his wife react to his being a pilot?

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eusebius
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Heydrich's Civil Flying

#14

Post by eusebius » 18 May 2006, 18:54

Can anyone give some background on Heydrich's flying activities before the war? I'd be interested to know if he had a civilian license, when he may have got it, and what sort of aircraft he probably flew.

Thanks
AGM
Phil V wrote:Heydrich was a keen civilian pilot prior to the war. During 1939 he flew missions as a gunner in Bombers. He qualified as a fighter pilot shortly after and flew a fighter plane during the Norway invasion (1940). After the Norway campagin he flew numerous reconnaissance flights over England and Scotland taking photos from a photo equipped plane. He flew more reconnaissance flights during the Russian Campaign, for which he received the Iron Cross (Ist Class) and Operational Flying Cross (Recon).

He flew mssions in the following :
BF-109E, GF-110 and Bombers.
(I don't know what these are as I am not educated in the aircraft of the Luftwaffe).

He held the following ranks / designations in relation to this flying :
- Gunner with Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) in 1939.
- Oberleutnant der Reserve and Adjutant of Jagdgeschwader 77 in 1940
- Major der Reserve duirng the Russian Campaign

He stopped flying after he received orders from Hitler forbidding him.

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