I have noticed Reinhard Heydrich's uniform has a pilot's badge. I also read that he wanted an Iron Cross so bad that he flew until he got it. Question is, when did he do this and was he part of the SS at the time? I know he was in the Kriegsmarine first. Then joined the SS. This means that he flew while in service with the SS. Am I wrong. I have not read anything else. I know somebody else had a question about SS members in other branches of the armed forces.

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

I know there were a small number of SS pilots assigned to fly Fiesler Storch type aircraft within the Waffen SS divisions, much as artillery observers flew Piper Cubs in the US Army.

Sorry to say, there were absolutely no Waffen SS in the Luftwaffe. There were however, some Waffen SS who were pilots as pointed out but they were not in any Luftwaffe unit. Also, there were a number of men who transfered from the Luftwaffe into the Waffen SS, and who had had some pilot training or were fully qualified. I do not remember where I read this but do remember that there was some sort of contreversy, as to wether this was true or not.

Many people also do not realize that the Kriegsmarine also had their own pilots, as did the U-boat service.

Yes, the mystery here is when did Heydrich get his Iron Cross? It does state he did while flying. But does not state flying for which branch. It was received after the war started but he was already in the SS. Oh, the mystery, the mystery.

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

I dont know when he recieved his EK, it was probably given to him because of the way he handled his "little kingdom"

All kidding aside, he recieved it whilst in the SS, I just dont know for what or when it was awarded to him for, could have been because of his admin skills-since he wasnt a combat soldier.

I almost forgot, he was in the Abwehr for a time which was probably when and where and why he was awarded the decoration. Also, he did not get along with Admiral Canaris which I believe led him to his sinister choice of positions.

I will have to take a look at the book again, but I was reading that he received it while flying. Which also brings up the question of his pilots badge. I will let you know what I found.

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

Dear PzJgr: Thank you, I could use more info on him, I appreciate it very much.

> Yes, the mystery here is when did
> Heydrich get his Iron Cross?


If I remember correctly, Heydrich was awarded his Iron Cross when he flew combat missions over the Eastern front. He was forbidden to continue this after he was shot down and had to be rescued.

/Marcus

So, then it is correct that we have an SS officer flying combat missions. Hmmm. Thanks Marcus

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

Here is a link which states same. He flew missions over Russia at about 1940/41 time frame. After he had joined the SS.

http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~plepage/biography.html

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

Thanks for the info. Still though, there were no Waffen SS in the Luftwaffe. It seems to be a fact that he earned his Ek's flying missions.

What I would like to know is whom did he fly with? What unit was he attached to? Why was he allowed to fly combat missions to begin with since early in his career, he was already too valuble to be used for combat which apparently Hitler or someone also realized? At that time he also had had his dealings with Canaris and the Abwehr and would have been very foolish for someone like him to fly combat missions.

This is a case like what Doolittle did. He was a General commanding air units but insisted on flying combat missions. That was very irrisponsible of him. Had he been shot down and captured would be unthinkable. It would have been an excellent coo for the Germans. Doolittle almost was courtmarshalled for his free-spirited ways.

I agree. This is a mystery. That is why I posted this to see if anybody else had any info. I cannot find any details other then he wanted an EK and fly until he got it.

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"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."

This is interesting, i did not know he was a fighter pilot at one time.