Hans-Joachim Marseille: German Super Ace
BY ROBERT TATE
The Best
WW II Fighter Pilot?
He has been called “The Great One,” “The Bohemian Bandit,” an “enfant terrible,” and
(the most enduring) “The Star of Africa.” He was both disliked and loved by a host of his
peers, hated by many high-ranking Nazis and commanding officers while being practi-
cally revered by the German people. History shows us that he was a steadfast anti-Nazi;
a troublemaker; a gifted pianist; a jokester; a serial womanizer; and an anti-racist, anti-
establishment, and antithetical Luftwaffe officer. Some might even say that he was a
jerk. Among dozens of recorded infractions, he once landed on the autobahn to urinate.
He was always in serious need of a haircut, constantly listened to illegal jazz and swing
music, and even strafed the ground in front of his commander’s tent. One thing is cer-
tain, however, regardless of combat experience or personal prejudices, nobody could
deny the magic he performed in the airplane. He is arguably the deadliest fighter pilot of
his generation and a man who clearly dominated the North African skies like no other.