During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe’s most accomplished fighter pilots—known as Experten—demonstrated exceptional flying skill, precision, and tactical discipline in their efforts to secure air superiority over England. Many were already combat-experienced from campaigns in Poland and France, and some had flown in Spain with the Condor Legion. These men formed the elite of the Luftwaffe’s Jagdwaffe and were often celebrated in wartime propaganda for their growing victory counts. This page profiles some of the most notable Experten of the battle, examining their backgrounds, aerial victories, and the role they played in one of the most intense aerial confrontations of the war.

Major Helmut Wick

Nationality: Germany
Unit: I./JG 2 “Richthofen”
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 56 (including 22 during the Battle of Britain)

Born in Mannheim in 1915, Helmut Wick joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and quickly distinguished himself as a talented and ambitious pilot. After serving as a flight instructor, he transferred to active combat duty and flew missions during the invasions of Poland and France. In early September 1940, following the promotion of Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft, Wick was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen.”

During the Battle of Britain, Wick became the Luftwaffe’s top-scoring fighter pilot of the campaign, claiming 22 confirmed victories between late August and early November 1940. At just 25 years old, he was promoted to Major, becoming the youngest officer of that rank in the Luftwaffe at the time. Charismatic and confident, he became a central figure in Nazi propaganda, presented as the ideal Jagdflieger.

On 28 November 1940, Wick claimed two more victories—his 55th and 56th—over RAF Spitfires. Later that day, he was shot down in turn during a dogfight over the English Channel. His wingman saw him bail out, but his body was never recovered. His death marked the sudden and dramatic end of one of the Luftwaffe’s most celebrated early-war careers.

Major Adolf Galland

Nationality: Germany
Unit: JG 26 “Schlageter”
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 104 confirmed (14 during the Battle of Britain)

Adolf Galland was born in Westerholt, Westphalia, in 1912, and began his aviation career flying gliders before joining the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1933. He gained early combat experience in the Spanish Civil War, flying ground-attack missions with the Condor Legion. Known for his bold flying style and technical expertise, he quickly earned a reputation as a skilled and innovative pilot.

Galland joined Jagdgeschwader 26 in May 1940 and rose rapidly through the ranks. In August 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain, he took command of JG 26, replacing Oberstleutnant Gotthard Handrick. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4, he became one of Germany’s top Jagdflieger, scoring 14 confirmed victories, many against RAF Spitfires. Galland was known not only for his aggressive tactics but also for his outspoken views; he famously told Hermann Göring that he would prefer “a squadron of Spitfires” over bombers.

In November 1941, Galland was appointed General der Jagdflieger, becoming the head of the Luftwaffe’s fighter arm. He frequently clashed with Göring over strategic decisions and the misuse of Germany’s fighter force. Sidelined in early 1945, Galland was eventually given command of Jagdverband 44, an elite unit equipped with the Me 262 jet fighter.

After surviving the war, Galland worked as an aviation consultant and wrote his widely acclaimed memoir, The First and the Last. He died in 1996, remembered as one of the Luftwaffe’s most iconic and outspoken fighter leaders.

Major Werner Mölders

Nationality: Germany
Unit: JG 51
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 115 confirmed (14 during the Battle of Britain)

Werner Mölders was born in Gelsenkirchen in 1913 and joined the Luftwaffe shortly after its formation in the mid-1930s and gained early fame serving with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War, where he became the top-scoring German pilot with 14 confirmed victories. A tactician as well as a combat pilot, Mölders helped introduce the more flexible “finger-four” formation to the Luftwaffe, greatly improving squadron effectiveness and survivability.

In 1940, Mölders commanded III./Jagdgeschwader 53 during the Battle of France. On 5 June, he was shot down by French fighters and taken prisoner, but was released following the armistice. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to command Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) and led it during the height of the Battle of Britain. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E, he scored 14 confirmed aerial victories during the campaign and was widely respected for his calm leadership and tactical skill.

By July 1941, Mölders became the first pilot in history to surpass 100 aerial victories. He was promoted to Inspector of Fighters (Inspekteur der Jagdflieger), taking on a key staff role overseeing all Luftwaffe fighter units. On 22 November 1941, while traveling as a passenger to attend the funeral of General Ernst Udet, Mölders died in a Heinkel He 111 crash near Breslau. He was just 28 years old. One of the Luftwaffe’s most admired and accomplished pilots, his legacy endured long after the war. Jagdgeschwader 74 was later named JG 74 “Mölders” in his honour, a designation retained until it was officially removed in 2005.

Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Marseille

Nationality: Germany
Unit: I./JG 52 (then III./JG 27)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 158 confirmed (7 during the Battle of Britain)

Hans-Joachim Marseille was born in Berlin in 1919 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. A gifted but unconventional pilot, he quickly stood out for his exceptional flying instincts and equally notable disregard for military discipline. Early in his career, he was frequently reprimanded for poor formation keeping and a cavalier attitude, which led to conflicts with his superiors.

During the Battle of Britain, Marseille served with I./Jagdgeschwader 52, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighters. He achieved seven confirmed victories during the campaign, but his combat record was overshadowed by erratic flying and a reputation for immaturity. In October 1940, following squadron reassignments, he was transferred to JG 27, where—under the patient leadership of Eduard Neumann in North Africa—his raw talent was honed into extraordinary effectiveness.

It was in the North African campaign, flying with III./JG 27, that Marseille reached the peak of his combat career. From 1941 to 1942, he scored 151 of his 158 confirmed aerial victories, mostly against RAF and Commonwealth pilots. He became renowned for his ability to shoot down multiple opponents in a single sortie—most famously downing 17 aircraft in three missions on 1 September 1942.

On 30 September 1942, Marseille was killed during a non-combat flight when his Bf 109 suffered engine failure. Attempting to bail out, he struck the aircraft’s tail and fell to his death. Just 22 years old, he was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. Admired by friend and foe alike, “The Star of Africa” remains one of the most celebrated and charismatic fighter pilots of the Second World War.

Oberleutnant Gerhard Schöpfel

Nationality: Germany
Unit: III./JG 26
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 45 (16 during the Battle of Britain)

Gerhard Schöpfel was born in Erfurt on 19 December 1912 and entered military service in 1930. After beginning his career in the infantry, he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1936, qualifying as a fighter pilot shortly before the outbreak of war. By mid-1940, he had risen to the rank of Oberleutnant and was serving as Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 26, part of III. Gruppe under the command of JG 26 Kommodore Adolf Galland.

During the Battle of Britain, Schöpfel emerged as one of the Luftwaffe’s most effective Jagdflieger. On 18 August 1940, known to the RAF as “The Hardest Day,” he shot down four Hawker Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron in a single mission over southern England—a feat that brought him considerable recognition. By the end of the campaign, Schöpfel had achieved 16 confirmed aerial victories, all while flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E.

He went on to succeed Galland as Kommodore of JG 26 in December 1941 and led the wing until mid-1943, when he was reassigned to staff and training positions. After the war, Schöpfel joined the newly formed Bundeswehr, eventually retiring in 1972 with the rank of Generalmajor. He died in 2003, remembered as one of the last surviving senior Luftwaffe officers from the early years of the Second World War.

Oberleutnant Josef Priller

Nationality: Germany
Unit: III./JG 51 (transferred to JG 26)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 101 confirmed (11 during the Battle of Britain)

Josef “Pips” Priller was born in Ingolstadt on 27 July 1915 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1935. He began his career in a bomber unit but transferred to fighters before the outbreak of World War II. By mid-1940, he was posted to III./JG 51, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E.

During the Battle of Britain, Priller distinguished himself as a bold and capable fighter pilot, claiming 11 confirmed aerial victories. In October 1940, he transferred to JG 26 “Schlageter,” where he flew under Adolf Galland and continued to build his reputation as one of the Luftwaffe’s most effective Jagdflieger.

Priller was promoted steadily and became Kommodore of JG 26 in January 1943. On 6 June 1944, during the Allied invasion of Normandy, he and his wingman Feldwebel Heinz Wodarczyk carried out one of the only known Luftwaffe fighter attacks over the invasion beaches—a daring low-level strafing run later dramatized in the film The Longest Day.

By the end of the war, Priller had achieved 101 confirmed victories, all on the Western Front. After the war, he joined the Riegele Brewery in Augsburg, owned by his wife’s family, and eventually became its director. He died of a heart attack on 20 May 1961, aged 45.

Hauptmann Gustav Rödel

Nationality: Germany
Unit: III./JG 27
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 98 confirmed (approximately 5 during the Battle of Britain)

Gustav Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, following prior service in the Reichswehr (German Army). After pilot training, he began his flying career in reconnaissance units before transferring to fighters.

By mid-1940, Rödel was serving with III./Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) and flew combat missions over southern England during the Battle of Britain, where he scored approximately five aerial victories, mostly while escorting bombers over the Channel. He was known for his calm temperament and precise flying, earning a reputation as a trusted and effective Staffel leader.

After the campaign, Rödel remained with JG 27 as it was transferred to the Balkans and later to North Africa, where he achieved the bulk of his victories against RAF and Commonwealth pilots. He was eventually promoted to Kommodore of JG 27 and completed the war with 98 confirmed kills, all against Western Allied aircraft.

Following World War II, Rödel joined the newly formed Bundesluftwaffe (West German Air Force), where he served in senior leadership roles and attained the rank of Generalmajor before retiring. He died in Munich on 6 February 1995, one of the longest-lived senior German fighter aces of the war.

Hauptmann Walter Oesau

Nationality: Germany
Unit: III./JG 51 (during the Battle of Britain)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 127 confirmed (9 during the Battle of Britain)

Walter Oesau was born on 28 June 1913 in Farnewinkel, Holstein, and joined the Luftwaffe in its formative years. He gained early combat experience with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War, where he achieved 9 aerial victories, becoming one of Germany’s first officially recognized Experten.

By mid-1940, Oesau was serving as Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 51, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E in support of Luftwaffe operations during the Battle of Britain. He scored 9 confirmed kills during the campaign, primarily against RAF fighters. Known for his aggressive tactics and independent streak, Oesau was respected but less publicly celebrated than contemporaries like Galland or Wick during this period.

He later commanded JG 2 “Richthofen” and then JG 1, earning promotion to Geschwaderkommodore. Oesau became the third Luftwaffe pilot to reach 100 aerial victories, a feat that earned him the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. His aircraft often bore the number “Green 13”, a personal emblem that became synonymous with his combat legacy.

On 11 May 1944, while flying a Fw 190 A-7 on an unauthorized solo mission, Oesau intercepted a large formation of USAAF B-17 bombers near St. Vith, Belgium. After downing a B-17, his aircraft was attacked by P-38 Lightnings of the 55th Fighter Group, and he was shot down and killed. He was 30 years old. Oesau’s death marked the loss of one of the Luftwaffe’s most experienced and decorated aces.

Leutnant Hans-Ekkehard Bob

Nationality: Germany
Unit: 7./JG 54 (part of III./JG 54)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 60 confirmed (9 during the Battle of Britain)

Hans-Ekkehard Bob was born on 24 January 1917 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden, Germany. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936 and trained as a pilot, eventually being assigned to 7. Staffel of III./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54), one of the Luftwaffe’s front-line fighter units.

Bob flew extensively during the Battle of France and was actively engaged throughout the Battle of Britain, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E. He completed dozens of missions over southern England, frequently escorting German bombers and engaging RAF fighters. By the end of the campaign, he had achieved 9 confirmed aerial victories, including several Spitfires and Hurricanes, making him one of JG 54’s most effective pilots during the battle. He was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class for his achievements.

On 15 October 1940, Bob was shot down over the Thames Estuary but managed to ditch his aircraft and was rescued by a German seaplane. This was one of several occasions during the war when he narrowly escaped death.

Bob continued to serve with distinction on the Eastern Front, eventually rising to the rank of Major and commanding I./JG 3. Over the course of the war, he flew more than 700 combat missions and achieved 60 confirmed aerial victories. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 March 1941.

After the war, Bob studied engineering and became involved in civil aviation and veterans’ organisations. He was a frequent speaker and participant in historical discussions about the Luftwaffe and the air war. He passed away on 12 August 2014 at the age of 97, remembered for his long life, flying career, and contributions to postwar aviation discourse.

Major Erich Mix

Nationality: Germany
Unit: JG 2 “Richthofen”
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 8 confirmed (all during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain)

Erich Mix was born on 27 June 1898 in Altshausen, Württemberg, and served as a pilot with the Imperial German Air Service during the final year of World War I, scoring five aerial victories. Between the wars, he remained active in civil aviation and entered politics.

At the outbreak of World War II, Mix returned to active duty in the Luftwaffe—unusual for a man in his 40s—and flew Bf 109s with Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen.” He scored eight confirmed victories, primarily during the Battle of France in 1940. His brief front-line flying career made him one of the few two-war fighter aces.

Following his combat service, Mix moved into training and administrative roles within the Luftwaffe. He served as mayor of Wiesbaden during the Nazi era from 1937 to 1945, and again in democratic West Germany from 1954 to 1960. He died in 1971, remembered as a rare example of a two-war fighter ace who later held public office in both totalitarian and democratic Germany.

Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Greiser

Nationality: Germany
Units: 7./JG 2, II./JG 2, later III./JG 3
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E & F
Kills: 34 confirmed (7 during the Battle of Britain)

Karl-Heinz Greisert was born on 2 February 1914 and joined the Luftwaffe in the mid-1930s as Nazi Germany rearmed. By the summer of 1940, he had risen to Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 2 “Richthofen” and saw intense aerial combat during the Battle of Britain, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighters. He claimed 7 confirmed aerial victories during the campaign, engaging RAF fighters over southern England and the Channel.

Following the battle, Greisert was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2, where he earned a reputation as a calm and effective leader. His escort tactics and disciplined formations were appreciated by bomber crews, and he continued flying operational sorties into 1942.

Later that year, Greisert was transferred to the Eastern Front, taking command of III./JG 3 during one of the most intense phases of the air war. On 22 July 1943, during fierce fighting near Orel in the aftermath of the Battle of Kursk, he was killed in action while engaging Soviet aircraft. At the time of his death, he had 34 confirmed aerial victories, and was regarded as a capable, disciplined, and respected Luftwaffe officer.

Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff

Nationality: Germany
Unit: III./JG 52
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 176 confirmed (6 during the Battle of Britain)

Johannes Steinhoff was born on 15 September 1913 in Bottendorf, Thuringia, and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. After completing his flight training, he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader 52 and became Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 52 in early 1940. During the Battle of Britain, he flew Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighters with III./JG 52, claiming six confirmed aerial victories while escorting bombers and engaging RAF fighters over southern England.

Though not among the highest scorers of the campaign, Steinhoff’s professionalism and tactical acumen marked him as a rising figure in the Luftwaffe. He later commanded notable fighter units including JG 77, operating in North Africa and on the Eastern Front, and JG 7, the Luftwaffe’s first operational jet fighter wing flying the Me 262. In April 1945, Steinhoff was severely burned in a takeoff accident in a Me 262, injuries which left lasting physical scars.

After the war, Steinhoff became instrumental in rebuilding West Germany’s air force. He joined the Bundesluftwaffe, rose to the rank of General, and ultimately served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the highest military position within the alliance. He died in 1994, remembered as one of the few senior Luftwaffe figures to make a lasting contribution to both wartime aviation and postwar peace.

Oberleutnant Friedrich Geißhardt

Nationality: Germany
Unit: 3./JG 2
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 102 confirmed (7 during the Battle of Britain)

Friedrich Geißhardt was born on 22 January 1919 in Sonnefeld, Bavaria, and joined the Luftwaffe before the outbreak of World War II. Assigned to 3./Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen” in early 1940, he flew combat missions during the Battle of France and later participated in the Battle of Britain. During the campaign, Geißhardt achieved seven confirmed aerial victories, flying the Bf 109 E on both sweep and escort missions over southern England and the Channel.

After the Battle of Britain, he was transferred to JG 77, where he distinguished himself in operations over the Eastern Front and North Africa. Known for his aggressive flying and consistent success in air combat, Geißhardt quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of JG 77 in early 1943.

On 6 April 1943, during a mission over Tunisia in a Bf 109 G-6, Geißhardt was critically wounded by defensive fire from a B-25 Mitchell bomber. He succumbed to his injuries two days later, on 8 April, at the age of 24. At the time of his death, he had been credited with 102 confirmed aerial victories, making him one of the most successful and youngest high-scoring aces in the Luftwaffe.

Hauptmann Wilhelm Balthasar

Nationality: Germany
Unit: I./JG 1 (later I./JG 2 “Richthofen”)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 47 confirmed (8 during the Battle of Britain)

Wilhelm Balthasar was born on 2 February 1914 in Fulda and began his military service as an artillery officer before transferring to the Luftwaffe. He gained early combat experience in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion, where he became one of Germany’s most effective pilots. For his service, he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds.

At the outset of the Battle of Britain, Balthasar commanded I./JG 1, which was redesignated I./JG 2 “Richthofen” in July 1940. Flying the Bf 109 E, he scored eight confirmed aerial victories during the campaign while leading his Gruppe in challenging engagements over southern England. Renowned for his cool leadership and disciplined flying, he was respected both as a pilot and a commander.

In March 1941, Balthasar was promoted to Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2, succeeding Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp. He continued to lead from the front, but on 3 July 1941, while returning from a mission over northern France, his Bf 109 F suffered structural failure—likely due to stress damage sustained in combat—and disintegrated in flight. Balthasar was killed instantly and posthumously promoted to the rank of Major. He remains one of the Luftwaffe’s most admired early-war leaders.

Hauptmann Heinz Bär

Nationality: Germany
Unit: I./JG 51
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 220 confirmed (7 during the Battle of Britain)

Heinz Bär was born on 25 March 1913 in Sommerfeld, Lower Silesia (now Lubsko, Poland), and joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 as a ground mechanic. Showing early promise, he applied for and completed pilot training, earning assignment to I./Jagdgeschwader 51 during the spring of 1940.

During the Battle of Britain, Bär flew Messerschmitt Bf 109 E fighters with I./JG 51 and was credited with seven confirmed aerial victories. Though not yet one of the Luftwaffe’s headline aces, he quickly built a reputation as a calm, effective leader with strong tactical instincts and a dedication to the survival of his wingmen.

Over the course of World War II, Bär became one of Germany’s top-scoring fighter aces, recording 220 confirmed aerial victories across the Western Front, Eastern Front, Mediterranean, and in the defense of the Reich. Notably, 16 of his victories were achieved while flying the revolutionary Messerschmitt Me 262 jet with JG 7 in 1945, making him one of the highest-scoring jet aces of the war.

Despite his outstanding combat record and over 1,000 missions flown, Bär’s independent attitude and refusal to join the Nazi Party brought him into conflict with senior leadership—particularly Hermann Göring—limiting his access to higher command. Nonetheless, he remains one of the most formidable and respected fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe.

Oberleutnant Ulrich Steinhilper

Nationality: Germany
Unit: 5./JG 52 (part of III./JG 52)
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Kills: 5 confirmed (during the Battle of Britain)

Ulrich Steinhilper was born in 1918 in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936 as an officer cadet. After completing pilot training, he was posted to 5. Staffel of III./Jagdgeschwader 52, flying combat missions during the Battle of France.

During the Battle of Britain, Steinhilper flew Messerschmitt Bf 109 Es on nearly 100 sorties, primarily providing fighter escort for German bombers over Kent and southeast England. He was credited with five confirmed aerial victories, making him an ace. On 27 October 1940, following a dogfight with RAF Spitfires, he was shot down near Canterbury and captured after bailing out. He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war, first in Britain and then in Canada, where he made several escape attempts—though none were ultimately successful.

After returning to Germany postwar, Steinhilper began a career with IBM and became a pioneering advocate for office automation, helping to introduce early word processing systems to the European market. He documented his wartime experiences in his memoir Spitfire on My Tail, which offered rare and thoughtful insight into the perspective of a young Luftwaffe pilot. Ulrich Steinhilper died on 14 September 2009, remembered both for his service and his contributions to postwar technology.