Colin D. Heaton

Heaton expertly portrays Marseille as one of history's great fighter pilots, as well as a man who lived life to the full and who fought with honor.” …Marleilles aloof personality. His disdain of authority but how he grew to understand it and be a leader himself. How he spoke his mind regardless of the company. His love of American Jazz. The authors description of the dogfights were great. Really enjoyable book given the unfortunate setting of WWII.
This is a true story. The pilot, Hans-Joachim Marseille, known as The Star of Africa and one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time. He was openly contemptuous of the Nazi party mocking anyone who ever asked him about joining, he saved a black prisoner of war and kept him in his own tent in the desert and defiantly played his American jazz records when he wasn't flying. Any ordinary person would have been severely punished. Hans got away with it because of his incredible skill as a pilot (He once shot down 17 British fighters in one day) and because his father was an Army General no one wanted to offend. Hans did not survive the war, perishing in an accident when his engine failed. This is his story.… (altro)

Imagine this scene, It's a party in Nazi Germany. All the bigwigs are there. Hitler, Goring, Gobbels, Himmler, lots of Generals in uniform and their families. The tip top of the elite of Nazi Germany during the earlier years in WWII while the Germans were still victorious on all fronts.

A young pilot sits down at a piano in a corner of the large room full of these people and begins to play. He's very good. First Beethoven's Fur Elise flows from his fingertips, then some Brahms, and then Chopin and after each selection people in the room applaud his skill. After close to an hour of playing the pilot abruptly changes gears and with a little smile begins to play an upbeat American jazz song. This type of music if strictly forbidden in Germany. It was viewed as the music of degenerates and the creation of lesser races (black people). As the song progressed people fled from the room so no one could even accuse them of listening to it. Suddenly Hitler stood, raised his hand and said "I think we've heard enough". And then walked away followed by Goring and Himmler. There was no applause for the Scott Joplin piece.

This is a true story. The pilot, Hans-Joachim Marseille, known as The Star of Africa and one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time. He was openly contemptuous of the Nazi party mocking anyone who ever asked him about joining, he saved a black prisoner of war and kept him in his own tent in the desert and defiantly played his American jazz records when he wasn't flying. Any ordinary person would have been severely punished. Hans got away with it because of his incredible skill as a pilot (He once shot down 17 British fighters in one day) and because his father was an Army General no one wanted to offend. Hans did not survive the war, perishing in an accident when his engine failed. This is his story.

… (altro)