Bruno Dilley led the first air strike of WW2, 1st of Setember 1939, at 4:34pm, 11 minutes before the Army's scheduled 4:45 attack on Poland. During the war he flew nearly 650 missions and was shot down 4 times, twice behind enemy lines.

Bruno Dilley

The airforce administration geared up Operation Flax at this time to intercept a massive German reinforcement plan. The Allies flew interception missions over the Mediterranean with American long-range P38 Lightnings, and British Kittyhawks with long-range tanks. The Germans were planning on using as many aircraft as possible to fly men, equipment and supplies from Sicily to Tunis. They gathered an armada of Ju-52s, Italian SM-82s and a squadron of huge powered gliders (Transportgeschwader 5 flying Messerschmitt 323s). On the first day of the operation 26 Axis aircraft were destroyed, 18 of them transports. Each Ju-52 carried 20 troopers for the Wehrmacht. By April 11 some 31 transport aircraft and many escorts had been destroyed. 



western desert

Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) GEORG DÖRFFEL (born July 27, 1914; KIA May 26, 1944). Commander Schlacht-Geschwader 5, Knight's Cross with oakleaves on April 14, 1943. On his 1005th mission (including 30 aerial victories as a dive bomber pilot!) he was shot down and killed north of Rome/Italy. Photo from April 1943. (Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-020-51)