And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.

I had to inspect all fighter units in Russia, Africa, Sicily, France, and Norway. I had to be everywhere.

An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.

Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.

If we would have had the 262 at our disposal - even with all the delays - if we could have had in '44, ah, let's say three hundred operational, that day we could have stopped the American daytime bombing offensive, that's for sure.

"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.

Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy. Only in this way can the eager and skillful fighter pilot display his ability. Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses: aggressive spirit, joy of action, and the passion of the hunter.