Messerschmitt Bf109G-5 "Walter Dahl" W.Nr.27112, III./JG 3, Bad Wörishofen, December, 1943

Victories : 128
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Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 25th November 1985

Knights Cross	Oak Leaves

Walter Dahl was born on 27 March 1916 at Lug in the Bergzabern region of Pfalz. He joined the army in 1935, initially serving in the infantry, before transferring to the Luftwaffe and becoming a pilot. He became a flight instructor in 1939. In May 1941, Dahl was transferred to the Geschwaderstab of JG 3. He gained his first victory on 22 June during the invasion of Russia. On 10 July, Dahl was transferred to II./JG 3. By the end of October, Dahl had 17 victories to his credit, including three Russian aircraft shot down on 13 September to record victories seven through nine and a further three on 23 October, all Russian fighters (15-17). Dahl was transferred to 4./JG 3 on 13 December 1941 and accompanied the unit to the Mediterranean theatre. He claimed a Spitfire shot down over Malta on 1 April 1942, although this claim could well have occurred on 2 April. However, the victory was not confirmed and the “Spitfire”, actually a RAF Hurricane of 229 Sqn, managed to return to its base on Malta, albeit damaged. On 10 April 1942, Dahl was appointed Staffelkapitän of Ergänzungsgruppe/JG 3. At the end of April 1943, Dahl was transferred to the staff of the General der Jagdflieger. On 15 August, Dahl was appointed Geschwaderadjutant of JG 3 based on the Eastern front where, by mid-April 1943, he had raised his victory total to 51. Dahl shot down four Russian Il-2 ground attack aircraft on 26 October 1942 (34-37). Oberleutnant Dahl was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 2 December 1942 for 42 victories. He shot down two Russian LaGG-3 fighters on 16 April 1943 (50-51). On 20 July 1943, Dahl was posted as Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 3, recently relocated to Münster from deployment around Kursk on the Russian Front. Here Dahl was to battle the bomber formations of the USAAF. He shot down two four-engine bombers on 6 September (52-53). He downed two more four-engine bombers and a USAAF P-38 twin-engine fighter on 23 February 1944 (59–61). Dahl led III./JG 3 against the Schweinfurt and Regensburg raid on 17 August but was intercepted by 222 Squadron RAF Spitfires. Five III./JG 3 Bf 109s were shot down including the aircraft of Leutnant Hans Schleef (99 victories, RK, killed in action 31 December 1944). Dahl himself had to make a belly landing near Capperath when his Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 18 842) suffered an engine failure. Major Dahl was awarded the Knight’s Cross on 11 March 1944 for 67 victories. On 21 May 1944, Dahl was appointed Kommodore of JG z.b.V. He led the unit until 6 June before taking command of JG 300 on 27 June. On 13 September, he brought down a USAAF B-17 four-engine bomber by ramming.

Despite the successes achieved against the USAAF four-engine bombers with the use of Sturm tactics employed by JG 300, Dahl was to be relieved of his command by Göring on 30 November 1944. On 26 January 1945, he was appointed Inspekteur der Tagjäger. Oberst Dahl was awarded the Eichenlaub on 1 February for 92 victories. Despite his promotion, Dahl continued to fly operationally. He added 32 Russian aircraft to his tally flying over the Eastern front. He recorded his 100th victory on 28 February 1945. Oberst Dahl ended the war flying Me 262 jet fighters with III./EJG 2. Here he flew under the command of Heinz “Pritzl” Bär (221 victories, RK-S). On 27 March, Dahl claimed two USAAF P-47 fighters shot down. He gained his 128th and last victory, a USAAF P-51 Mustang near Dillingen, on 26 April 1945. Walter Dahl survived the war but died on 25 November 1985 at Heidelberg, aged 69.

Walter Dahl shot down 128 enemy aircraft in 678 missions, including about 300 ground-attack missions. He claimed 30, possibly 36, four-engine bombers and 34 Il-2 Stormovik ground attack aircraft. Dahl also achieved 2, possibly as many as 9 victories, flying the Me-262. He recorded 84 victories over the Eastern Front.

 

 

 

1/48 scale pre-finished.