German Fighters' Tactics
Dicta B�lcke
Oswald B�lcke was the first Kanone ("Top Gun") of the Luftwaffe and
any other air forces during World War I. His status as a Kanone was more
spectacular because the French Air Force required only five kills to be an
ace while the Luftwaffe wanted ten before anyone could be called a Kanone.
Having only two years of flight (note: not combat) experience by 1916, B�lcke
was already the highest scoring ace in the Luftwaffe. He downed his 34th
kill in 1916, and he was only 25 years old. In autumn 1916 he scored his
40th victory, a record not matched by anyone except Manfred von Richthofen,
the Red Baron. Soon after his 40th victory B�lcke was tragically killed in
an mid-air collision with a student pilot. His command was replaced by
Richthofen and the squadron had a new motto: I will be a B�lcke.
Summoning his own experience and ingenuity, B�lcke had formulated several
golden rules for all fighter pilots to follow after him. These rules were
strictly taught and remembered by many German pilots, and are still followed
by the United States Air Force today. They are:
- Secure every advantage.
- Attack from behind.
- Attack in groups.
- Don't quit an attack, once started.
- Don't be fooled by th enemy's tricks.
- Turn to face a diving foe.
- Always keep the enemy in sight.
- Fire at close range.
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