Luftwaffe rank and roles (Stuka pilots)

[NETSCAPE]

Hi all. I am half way done with my Stuka campaign. At this point the player goes from being a wingman to becoming the flight lead. He is "promoted". I did a quick draft of the briefing and realize I should mention rank.

 

For the sake of my question, I don't think want the player to be the leader/highest rank of the whole staffel per say. But someone who is high enough in rank to lead a Kette with 2 wingmen.

 

My question is what are a couple rank examples that would apply to such a role? 

 

I'm very familiar with ranks and roles of the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS. The Luftwaffe is not my forte so I just thought I'd post quick, get some help, and save some time.

 

Thanks in advance. 

[Cybermat47]

Franz Stigler lead at least two other Bf-109s as a Leutnant in March 1944. The position was probably based on experience as well - more experienced Leutnants would lead the rookie Leutnants, so a promotion of rank may not be needed in your campaign.

 

Also, just so you know, the Wehrmacht wasn't the German Army. It was the German Defence Force - the Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, and Heer were all branches of the Wehrmacht.

[NETSCAPE]

Ok then. My briefing might just sound a little bit more "gamey" than a letter of promotion I suppose. 

[Retnek]

Don't worry too much about it, the leader of an (small) element often has been a senior non-commissioned officier ("Unteroffiziere mit Portepee"). Later in war in some units it depended very much on combat experience, so a formation was lead by a low ranked, but most capable pilot. Fighter units did it regularly, the bomber units usually were more conservative. But it happend, too. But it's no problem to start a green pilots career with the rank of an "Leutnant" (2nd lieutenant) to keep clear of those problems - they were officers and expected to lead small elements as soon as possible.

[csThor]

You should be aware that there was a noticeable gap between the NCOs and the Officer ranks. To advance from an NCO rank to officer usually required both considerable military achievements (awards like the Knight's Cross and upwards) AND a dedicated training course for Officers which lasted several months and was held at specific officers' schools back in Germany (and therefor away from the front). For example Alfred Grislawski of III./JG 52 was promoted to Leutnant in mid-1943 and then sent back to Germany for a longer R&R followed by the officer's course.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

-snip-

 

Also, just so you know, the Wehrmacht wasn't the German Army. It was the German Defence Force - the Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, and Heer were all branches of the Wehrmacht.

 

You should see how bad I got brigaded when I pointed this out on Reddit.

Edited July 11, 2017 by Space_Ghost

[Lusekofte]

I read about a Feldweber that lead a flight with a Lieutenant as a wingman, they where to escort a BF 110 that flew recce and artillery spotting mid to late war in Russia flying FW 190, this was due to experience between those two and was explained as common, flying leader or wing are more a kind of work not command chain , the flight ended with the Lieutenant crash-land in a abandoned forward airbase. 

There where Under officers also flying

[NETSCAPE]

You should see how bad I got brigaded when I pointed this out on Reddit.

 

haha yeah sorry for the Heer/Wehrmacht error. I typically get on the forum right when I wake up or after HOURS of starring into the mission editor 

Edited July 11, 2017 by NETSCAPE