Memoirs of German Pilots in the First World War Volume 1 Published

[Doppeldecker]

Yes indeed, these kinds of details humanize the pilots. Buddecke practiced getting used to the feeling of flight by riding a roller coaster in Chicago over and over!

Jason

[FliegerJG1]

I also am very interested in translated memoirs such as those by Wenzel and Schäfer and Udet. While reading English language materials, portions of the German books are often quoted but the context of the quote would be so helpful to have! As already noted, the memoirs are so rich with little details that paint a fuller portrait of the person and the life they lived. I look forward to more translations!

[Doppeldecker]

Hello FliegerJG1,
Thanks for your suggestions -- glad to hear that you're interested in more translations. Yes, I've always appreciated the excerpts from memoirs that can be found in various publications, but I agree that more context is needed -- this was behind my idea to publish the complete translations. Beyond flight operations (data about aircraft, kills, etc), the complete memoirs give a richer sense of the pilots' personalities (humor, beliefs, anxieties, experiences, emotions).
Schaefer is definitely next on the agenda (I'm in the middle of translating his 'Vom Jaeger zum Flieger') -- hope to have it and a couple others out with Aeronaut by the end of the year (volume 2!).

Best wishes,
Jason

[Kanzler]

Hi Doppeldecker,

I agree... the "flight operations" all sound pretty much the same, no matter which one you read. But the "personality parts" are so much more interesting. Gives the pilots and observers a more "humane" aspect.
Funny is: the German pilots memoirs are rather available in English, that the original German books... seems like not so many care about them here...

Greetings - Kanzler

[Doppeldecker]

Hello Kanzler,
I completely agree! This was one of my motives for translating the complete memoirs. The pilots' personalities really shine through.

Best wishes,
Jason