Barksdale AFB welcomes WWII pilot

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  • By Staff Report
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Joachim Hoehne, author of Glory Refused...The memoirs of a Teenage Rocket Pilot of the Third Reich, was the guest speaker for the local Claire Chennault Flight of the Order of Daedalians meeting Aug. 16 at the Barksdale Club.

Many local pilots from WWII to current B-52 attended the meeting.

Mr. Hoehne, spoke of stories about his father flying with the Red Baron, Count Manfred Von Richthofen. He recounted Reichsmarshall Hermann Goering visiting and dining at his home. He also told stories of training as a glider pilot and being part of the Hitler Youth.

During WWII, Joachim was assigned to man 88mm anti-aircraft artillery. At the age of 17, he was checking out in the Messerschmitt-163 as the Russians over-ran their training location and his unit moved south. He finally ended up in a French POW camp prior to being released and returning to his hometown.

After the war he became a concrete engineer and ended up moving to the U.S. in the early 50s. A few of the projects he worked on include the extension of the runways at Columbus AFB, Miss., and Barksdale, as well as the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy.

Editor's note: This information was provided by Lt. Col. Alan Parmater, Daedalians Flight Captain.