Pilot Major Hannes Trautloft
Jagdgeschwader 54. Eastern Front, Summer 1942
Otto Hans “Hannes” Trautloft (3 March 1912 – 12 January 1995) was a Luftwaffe pilot during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, plus general in the postwar German Air Force.
As a fighter ace, he is credited with 58 enemy aircraft shot down, including 5 in Spain, 8 on the Western Front and 45 on the Eastern Front. Following flight training, he served with Jagdgeschwader 134 “Horst Wessel” (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) and was one of the first German volunteers to fight in the Spanish Civil War. From August to December 1936, he claimed five aerial victories. For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords.
Following Spain, Trautloft held various positions, and at the outbreak of World War II he was the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). He claimed his first victory during the Invasion of Poland and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 20 which later became III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, Trautloft was given command of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He led JG 54 in Operation Barbarossa. There, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. He continued to lead JG 54 on the Eastern Front until July 1943 when he was called to the staff of the General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters), assisting in the readiness, training and tactics of the Luftwaffe fighter force.
After the war, Trautloft joined the new German Air Force of West Germany in 1957. Serving as deputy Inspector of the Air Force and commander of Luftwaffengruppe Süd (Air Force Group South), Trautloft retired in 1970 holding the rank of Generalleutnant (lieutenant general)
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Length:
Wingspan:
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Length:
Wingspan:
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Length:
Wingspan:
Original
8.95m
9.92m
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Original
8.95m
9.92m
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Original
8.95m
9.92m
3rd
2,983mm
3,307mm
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8th
1,119mm
1,240mm
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24th
372.9mm
413.3mm
4th
2,238mm
2,480mm
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9th
994mm
1,102mm
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32nd
279.7mm
310.0mm
5th
1,790mm
1,984mm
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10th
895mm
992mm
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48th
186.5mm
206.7mm
6th
1,492mm
1,653mm
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12th
746mm
827mm
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72nd
124.3mm
137.8mm
7th
1,279mm
1,417mm
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16th
559mm
620mm
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144th
62.2mm
68.9mm
12th – 16th Scale
£ 14.99
16th Scale+
£ 14.99
8th – 10th Scale
£ 15.49
10th – 12th Scale
£ 14.99
6th – 7th Scale
£ 24.99
7th – 8th Scale
£ 18.99
4th – 5th Scale
£ 52.49
5th – 6th Scale
£ 33.99
3rd – 4th Scale
£ 81.49
144th Scale
£ 4.49
72nd Scale
£ 7.99
48th Scale
£ 9.49
32nd Scale
£ 10.99
24th Scale
£ 13.99
For more information on this pilot, please refer to the following links: