The question that should be asked here is, what makes a good pilot? Is a pilot target practice? Is a good pilot a pilot than can stay alive? Is a great pilot a man who can shoot down enemy aircraft? Is an amazing pilot a man who can lead his whole squadron into ace status?
Indeed. What exactly is the criteria for
best WWII fighter pilot?
I would have to agree with Adler that Hartmann should be considered the
greatest purely for an
official score that will never be surpassed.
Then there is Marseille - yes he was a brilliant pilot and superb marksman:
"Combat reports analysed in Berlin show that, at the height of his powers, he expended an average of fifteen shells and bullets per victory. More than one wingman has described the first shells hitting the nose of the enemy aircraft then 'walking' back to the cockpit area." - Mike Spick
However, Marseille was reckless and was it not for his unfortunate death he would probably have stayed with JG27 and ended up flying
Reichsluftverteidigung - in which case how long would he have survived?
Moreover, how successful would Hartmann have been in the West and how long would he have survived in the RLV? Look at Barkhorn - after he was transferred to the West as
Kommodore of JG6 he failed to score. Whereas Rall (who was by many of his contemporaries considered to be the best deflection shot in the Luftwaffe), when sent to the West to command II/JG11, added only 2 (those being his final 2) victories before being shot down and hospitalized.
In fairness though, some Luftwaffe pilots failed to make the transition the other way!
You may notice i have not mentioned any pilots of other nationalites. Whilst i have my favourites from other air forces, it is obvious that the winner of the poll will be a German
So - I would personally have to go with someone like Galland, Priller, Mayer, Oesau, Bühligen or Bär. These men were not only very successful in the West but were also outstanding tacticians and formation leaders.
I voted for 'Pritzl' for the same reasons as listed by Adler and because
" a disagreement with Göring kept him from any higher decorations, and his outspoken refusal to obey orders he considered reckless brought him a demotion in 1943." - Donald Caldwell.
...he was NOT a "good litlle Nazi"!