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Friday, October 16, 2015
Luftwaffe Ace Erich Hartmann with his Trusted Mechanic
Oberleutnant Erich Hartmann, the world's most successful fighter pilot with a tally of 352 victories. He is seen here with his mechanic, Heinz 'Bimmel' Mertens, and his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6
I 've read that Erich and his mechanic Heinz Mertens had a very good personal relationship. That's so valuable at the front, and everywhere indeed. They were truly close friends, these two 20-years old guys. And another detail: when Erich left for a flight, his faithful 'Bimmel' couldn't sleep or eat, but only paced back and forth along the edge of the airfield. He was really worried about his 'Bubi'. It remains to be added that nothing similar existed in the relationship between Stalin's aces, Pokryshkin and Kozhedub. It was as if their mechanics didn't exist at all...
I 've read that Erich and his mechanic Heinz Mertens had a very good personal relationship. That's so valuable at the front, and everywhere indeed. They were truly close friends, these two 20-years old guys. And another detail: when Erich left for a flight, his faithful 'Bimmel' couldn't sleep or eat, but only paced back and forth along the edge of the airfield. He was really worried about his 'Bubi'. It remains to be added that nothing similar existed in the relationship between Stalin's aces, Pokryshkin and Kozhedub. It was as if their mechanics didn't exist at all...
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