Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille thanks his ground crew for keeping his Me 109 in good flying order. During the 12 months in which he scored more than 150 kills over N.Africa, his plane was not hit by a single enemy bullet. (scanned by HOS Bandit)

Hans-Joachim Marseille

Axis troops form an honor guard for Hans-Joachim Marseille's coffin, which was buried where the young flier fell to his death after an engine fire in his plane. Marseille had managed to bail out of the flaming craft, but his head struck the tail of his craft, and he hurtled to the ground unconcious, unable to deploy his chute. All but 4 of Marseille's 158 victories, were over enemy fighters, more elusive than bombers. (scanned by HOS Bandit)

Marseille Burial

The front cargo doors of a huge Messerschmitt Gigant open to unload horses. the six-engined transport, which could carry 25,000 lbs. of freight, became a vital cargo carrier on the vast Eastern Front, after Hitler's invasion of the Soviet-Union. (scanned by HOS Bandit)