Why was Goring Chosen to Lead JG1?

[Manfred von Bodenschatz]

Of all the qualified flyers still around in July 1918, why was Goring chosen to succeed Reinhard?

[frontflieger]

Hi - good question. I would love to be able to present a good and simple reason for this event - but I can not. So far I was not able to prove, that Hermann Göring was really the next active officer to lead a Jagdgeschwader.

For a different point of few you will have to read Peter Kilduff's book about Göring.

Thorsten

[Gman]

I finished reading Peter Kilduff’s book and have to admit that Goering really was
highly qualified as a career officer and fighter pilot. It just made sense to appoint him as the next commander. His conduct as commander is a different story.
The book is a real eye opener, very well researched and highly recommended.

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by Manfred von Bodenschatz

Of all the qualified flyers still around in July 1918, why was Goring chosen to succeed Reinhard?

Mate,
Welcome to the flagship of the Aerodrome - where the greatest minds on the planet get together and talk about their favorite subject - WW1.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

P.S. Werner Voss fan here.
P.S.S. The reason I think he was chosen was because of a lot of politics and butt kissing + his family connections. His 'PLM' was awarded far ahead of other more qualified selected pilot candidates.

[dirtyshirt]

Good evening ,

He must obviously have been the best man for the job.

With regards,
Mike.

[Barry Hickson]

Originally Posted by dirtyshirt

Good evening ,

He must obviously have been the best man for the job.

With regards,
Mike.

G'day Mike! i think there was a fair bit of "Political String Pulling" attached to his appointment as well.
Have you read Peter Killduff's excellent book on Goring.
Most enlightening!

[rexee]

Perhaps the fishnet stockings and the hair net?

[Bulldog90]

Goering was chosen for a couple of reasons. First, as some of the other guys here have mentioned, he was what we would call today a career army officer. He had been to command schools and was familiar with the various administrative duties. Young men who joined the army and then went to flight school did not receive this kind of training, and are usually referred to as "leutenant de Reserve" to distinguish them from regular officers. MvR had a similar background.

Goering was a political animal. He had friends in high places and he was known as excellent company for a night on the town (always helpful for any up and comer). Although several of his claims would later be questioned Goering was also an experienced combat ace, which made him qualified to lead such a prestigous squadron. (The guy he took over for, Reinhard, had several fewer claims than Goering). Once he took command of JG1, Goering didn't do a lot of flying, but that wasn't really his job anymore; making sure his group had fuel and spare parts was.

Bulldog90

[Catfish]

Hi,
at first Wilhelm Reinhard indeed became the successor of MvR in leading JG1 (consisting of squadrons #4, 6, 10 and 11), as Richthofen had wished and written in a letter to be opened after his death.

Reinhard must have been an exceptional aviator, but of course he was not as well-known as Richthofen - no one else was towards the end of the war. Charisma was not necessarily a reason anyway, since even Richthofen's has been so hyped up that the original man might have been an ordinary and shy one in reality (well, maybe not quite ).
Unfortunately Reinhard died at Adlershof while testing a Zeppelin D.I Dornier (or Zeppelin-Lindau D.I) prototype on july 3rd, at Berlin-Adlershof.

On july 6th Goering was promoted to lead JG1 after Reinhard, by the commanding General of the german air forces. Goering had proved himself as a bold and ambitious flying officer with 21 shotdowns, and also had been awarded the Pour-le-Mérite.
Bodenschatz later wrote that Goering was the long-awaited charismatic successor of Manfred (what Goering always wanted to be), but Bodenschatz wrote this in 1938 being by then personal Adjutant of Goering ...

Despite his own-made-up legend Goering had never flown or really known M.v.Richthofen, and they probably never met. There are some later photos showing Goering with Lothar v.R., but never with Manfred.

Greetings,
Kai

[Lyle]

I agree with what's been said about Goering's status in the Army--he was a "career" officer and wasn't a conscript or in the reserves. That said, it was simply that he was the right man for the job. No ace needed, or exceptional pilot--just a guy who can do the paperwork and follow orders.

Whether he was an ambitious jerk or had connections in high places is not debated, and I'm sure it played a part in him getting the job, but armies operate pretty much the same everywhere--just slogging along trying to get the job done.