August 2019 29the aerial-combat playbook. Unfortunately,
the phenomenon that first surfaced between
June 8 and 17 reappeared, in that the
remainder of Marseille’s squadron shot down
only 1 airplane in September. Only 1! Yes,
Marseille accounted for 98% of 3./JG 27’s
victories during this period. In other words,
a lot of guys were doing a lot of nothing.
Marseille shouldered the entire burden of
the 3rd Squadron, but in their defense,
what occurred was met with approval by
all involved. Marseille scored heavily, while
his men willingly lived vicariously in their
leader’s growing limelight. That being said,
it still required the singularly exceptional
skills of Marseille to exploit the scoring
opportunities presented to him; no other
pilot could have done so.
Right: The Luftwaffe recorded their kills on the rudder, rather
than under the cockpit, as the Allies did. One hundred was not
a particularly unusual number of kills in the Luftwaffe because
their pilots were in service for the entire war. None, however,
reached that level in such a short period of time as Marseille.
(Photo courtesy of EN-Archive) Below: The ace examines one
of his victories. (Photo courtesy of EN-Archive)