Douglas Pitcairn, Luftwaffe Pilot

"JDupre5762" wrote in message
...
I have recently learned about Douglas Pitcairn a Luftwaffe pilot who flew
with
the Condor Legion in Spain. The article didn't describe how someone with
such
an English sounding name ended up in Spain. At first I thought he might
be an
English volunteer for Franco but since the Condor Legion was really an all
German show and now I learn that Pitcairn flew for the Luftwaffe in France
I
realize he must have been a German citizen. I am more intriqued than
ever.

Who was he and how did he get his name? Did he survive WW2?

John Dupre'

If I recall he was the German Fighter Director for the Polesti "Tidal Wave"
raid as Uzal Ent was the American commander. I believe he was Douglas
Pitcairn of Perthshire. The English and German 'royals' were related. This
is from memory and I do not know if all is recalled correctly. Google is
your friend.

Tex

"Tex Houston" wrote in message ...
"JDupre5762" wrote in message
...
I have recently learned about Douglas Pitcairn a Luftwaffe pilot who flew
with
the Condor Legion in Spain. The article didn't describe how someone with
such
an English sounding name ended up in Spain. At first I thought he might
be an
English volunteer for Franco but since the Condor Legion was really an all
German show and now I learn that Pitcairn flew for the Luftwaffe in France
I
realize he must have been a German citizen. I am more intriqued than
ever.

Who was he and how did he get his name? Did he survive WW2?

John Dupre'


Douglas Pitcairn was the second Staffel Kapitan of the 3/J88 from
April to the end of July 1937 (he was replaced by Adolf Galland,) he
was the man who introduced the famous Micky Maus insignia for the
3/J88. He never claimed a victory during the spanish tour.

The 1st September 39, Haupt Douglas Pitcairn took the command of the
1/JG51 till 5th august 1940 where he had a serious accident just
before to take off. His White 1 entered in collision with the White 8
of Fw Willi Gasthaus.

During this period he shot down 4 aircrafts: 25/9/39 a Curtiss Hawk
H75 of GC II/4, 21/5/40 a Hurricane maybe of 253 Sqn. But not sure,
possibly also it can be a French fighter, many were shot down in this
aera this same day. For these 2 victories Douglas Pitcairn had as
Wingman Heinz Bär ( a future experte with 221 victories).

The two last victories are the 23/5/40 near Arras against a Dewoitine
520 of GC I/3 and the 6/6/40 against a French bomber Léo 451 probably
of GB II/31.

After his accident he never flew again and served in different Jafü…

(provisional information taken from another board)
Rob

p.s. Pitcairn was the first to score a kill for 1/JG51