Gunther Rall

[soko121]

Flypast and Facebook telling of Gunther Rall passing ealier this week

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_Rall

if this is accurate then i want to say how saddened i am at the loss of who i consider to be one of the great fighter pilots of our time. He was a true warrior and a Gentleman,his book is a great read. I have a great deal of respect for the type of charachter that faced the odds and conditions that he did at the end of the war and still several times a day fulfilled his call to duty for his country, how many of us would do that now?

Thank you for the history, let us never repeat it !

RIP

Simon

[Rauhbatz]

I had the great pleasure to meet Rall several years back at a Bader symposium and talked to him for a bit. He was the real deal..

At the Great Georgia Airshow last year we had Bob "Punchy" Powell speak on fighter pilots. He commented that the last fighter pilot has already been born due to UAVs and the like. Rall's passing represents a sad step towards that milestone...

I hope he is having a cigar right now with Galland...

[Dan K]

Ten weeks ago at OSH...




Horrido!!

[Nathan]

Not that many posts here. Is it because he flew for Germany?

Well the way I look at it is that this man was a man from history that was here to tell us a story. He did so honorably.

God Speed Mr. Rall!

[Oscar Duck]

fine chap indeed. I meet with him several times over the years. A great aviator who did his best for his country in war and peace.

RIP

[sdennison]

Auf Wiedersehen Sir. Gottgeschwindigkeit.

[DaveM2]

There is a few other posts in the 'Gone West' section.

With the big three now passed on (Hartmann, Barkhorn and now Rall) I thing Erich Rudorffer (now 92) is the highest scoring ace surviving with 222 including 12 in the Me262.

Dave

[Lynn Allen]

Truly sad to hear this as I hoped to meet him some day....RIP

Lynn

[D17s]

Gunther was a fighter pilots pilot. IMO the best of best, reguardless of the uniform worn. His book " My Logbook" is on the bookshelf behind me in a place of honor. I lived and flew in Germany for three GREAT years and many times often wondered of the history of the airfields and airspace that I flew in and the O'Club and Squadron bars I drank in.
Gunther RIP

Mike

[Mgawa]

From all those who have met him personally is known that he was nice man. I hear few days ago that general Ral is passed. It look like that he was among the people who could not be credit as enemy, no matter he fought on other side.

Rest in Peace

[Firebird]

Had the privillege to meet him about 12-13 years ago when he gave an excellent lecture at the Yorkshire Air Museum.

[JägerMarty]

Very sad news, always looked forward to seeing him interviewed, a true legend!

I met him about ten years ago at Oshkosh. I didn't know he was there and I more or less ran into him. It was a real privilege to speak with him for a few minutes.

[Obergrafeter]

Hals Und Bien Bruch General Rall.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I too, had the chance to meet Gen. Rall in person and hear him speak at one of the Bader events in D.C. back in the 1980's.
Gentleman all the way and obviously a fine combat pilot.
PIP Gen. Rall.
Jerry