JG 2 Richthofen 1936 - 1941

The evening of July 23, 1941 was slowly coming. Another hot clay was at its end -one more hour and the burning Sun would de­scend out of the cloudless sky. The pilots had taken rest after a hard afternoon battle, and, light supper eaten, they were moving around the commanding post. Now only the III Gruppe was at readiness. They were in their beach chairs, catching the fading Sun's last rays, play­ing cards or having a hot debate on the last party at Cafe Joanne. Noonc believed there could be more take-offs and all were waiting for the phone to cancel the combat-readiness.
Obit. Erich Leie brought two cups of hot cof­fee and gave one to Obit. Pflanz, who sat com­fortably behind a desk standing at the door of the low barrack where the commanding post was.