Author Topic: We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today  (Read 979 times)

Offline GScholz

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2003, 12:30:46 AM »
Ahh *phew*. Thanks for the info. :)
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline Grendel

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #16 on: June 15, 2003, 04:04:58 AM »
Kossu adds:

This "meeting" was not a private one, but arranged by the Aviation Museum Society, Finland and was open to all. That's why it was pretty hard to get down to the gritty details as the time for questions was limited to about 15 minutes. This first lecture took place at Tikkakoski Air Force Base's OC and continued with a tour at the Finnish Air Force Museum.

http://www.jiop.fi/ksimuseo/

Anyway, General Rall sure is a good story teller and didn't need any kind of notes or aids during his over an hour "lecture". Very good info in that lecture too, and some stuff you don't normally think about very much.
For example when he described his experiences flying the Me 262, he said that one of the great things (among many others) about it was that the radio was soo good, and crisp sounding without any interference from the engine ignition system, which usually garbles the radios in planes with internal combustion engines. Never thought about that before...
One of his best comments was when somebody asked him about the best tactics against the P-47s....

"Just shoot them down"

Offline Seeker

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #17 on: June 15, 2003, 04:24:51 AM »
Very cool!

Offline Hap

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #18 on: June 15, 2003, 07:48:19 AM »
275 huh?

Offline GScholz

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #19 on: June 15, 2003, 09:14:58 AM »
Yup, and those are the confirmed ones. LW didn't count probables.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline julle

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #20 on: June 16, 2003, 08:27:25 AM »
Quote
A side note: I still can't believe those restoration people painted over the airfilter on that G6 ... doh!


That 109G-6 is NOT restored. Itīs parked there after her career was over in about 1954...

Donīt know about the paintings, but the AC was flightworthy when it came to the museum...

BTW: I have been sitting in that cockpit with the canopy closed...

julle

Offline BlauK

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #21 on: June 16, 2003, 08:53:51 AM »
It has been repainted though, after its career was ended ;)

...and, Oh yes, it was grrrreat to meet the general :) . Although it happened a day later than with these guys above. Herr Rall gave 2 more lectures the next day in another Finnish aviation museum. Got an autograph and a hand shake... :D
« Last Edit: June 16, 2003, 08:56:51 AM by BlauK »


  BlauKreuz - Lentolaivue 34      


Offline GScholz

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #22 on: June 16, 2003, 11:44:37 PM »
I envy you Julle! Where is this museum? I might pack up the car and drive east to look at this. Do visitors normally get to sit in the planes?

Btw. why isn't this 109 being flown today? If it was airworthy when the museum got it it should be quite easy getting it back in the air. Flying 109's are as rare as plutonium these days.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline BlauK

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #23 on: June 17, 2003, 01:02:58 AM »
Just a Bf109, flyable or not, is rare in Finland. There are only 2 of them in showable shape. They would not risk them for flying.

And No.. One cannot sit in them anymore for the same reason. They are irreplacable. Julle got his chance while there was still the old museum director. New director does not allow it anymore.


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Offline GScholz

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #24 on: June 17, 2003, 01:47:04 AM »
Where in Finland is this museum? Now that I got lots of spare time on my hands I'd also like for you guys to let me know when something big like this happens, I might just drive over to say hello. :)
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline julle

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #25 on: June 17, 2003, 07:14:10 AM »

Offline GScholz

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We met 275 kill ace, Gunther Rall, today
« Reply #26 on: June 17, 2003, 05:16:28 PM »
Thanks.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."