LW pilot Gottfied Dulias

[Nico C]

I don't see the problem here.
He was an enlisted flyer in the war, he just got promoted after the war. So?
Earning the EK and medals by playing the PC game "battle for britain".
What's wrong with that

Serious now.
I don't think I saw many, if I even saw any, veterans dressed up like him.
Maybe a baseball cap or something, but not in full uniform.

It's a sad story.


On the other hand, there are numerous stories by other WWII survivors that are filled with lies. And those people are also believing their own lies.


Let him be happy. When he was in JG53, he would have dreamt of becoming one day an ace like his commanders. But the end of the war decided different for him.
And now, he can finally be a "hero" and people will give him the attention of which he dreamt long ago.

[Jean-Loup]

I think any german vet dressed up like that at a public event has issues to deal with. That last picture of him is simply scary.

[TMurray]

Well, I believe he has got recently promoted to Oberleutnant! His career continues

More seriously anyone knows if the awards he is wearing are originals (I can ask if he has earned them all?)

According to his 'career' he has joined 3./ JG 53 in the fall of 1944. It is pretty short time to earn frontflugspange in silber (60 flights) I think, if to consider lack of fuel, planes, other materials...

think you just nailed him for good

[BergführerKiser]

Gr******252;******223; Gott Kameraden,

I am by no means a Luftwaffe expert, but I have met Gottfried several times and he is a native German...and getting up in age. He is an adviser to the Luftwaffe Aircrew Reenactor Association (LARA - http://www.luftwaffereenactors.org/). Perhaps you should talk with these folks before this all gets out of hand.

[Luftm40]

I wonder how much capital the SOS spent to get him there? and how many less research-minded collectors fawned over him and paid for an autograph? Pitiful

[Billy B]

I wonder how much capital the SOS spent to get him there? and how many less research-minded collectors fawned over him and paid for an autograph? Pitiful

Pleas don't tell me he was charging for autographs Can anyone confirm this?

[VonStigler1]

I don't know if he was selling autographs at the SoS because I was not there. But I do know he was selling autographs 2 years ago at the WWII Weekend in Reading, PA because I bought one from him and shook his hand! I think it was $10 for a signed lithograph of his plane Yellow 6. And yes he was dressed in full uniform which I did find a little odd.
Regards,
Brian

[TMurray]

Grüß Gott Kameraden,

I am by no means a Luftwaffe expert, but I have met Gottfried several times and he is a native German...and getting up in age. He is an adviser to the Luftwaffe Aircrew Reenactor Association (LARA - http://www.luftwaffereenactors.org/). Perhaps you should talk with these folks before this all gets out of hand.

Patrick, he's a fraud. If LARA continue to believe he's a genuine 5 victory ace that's their problem.

[VonStigler1]

Here is the litho. I can't believe this guy is a fraud!!

[Adrian Stevenson]

If this is true, which it seems to be, I find it very sad.

"Fake" WW2 Veterans sadly are not an unknown phenomenon. I have come across one or two Allied ones myself.

Cheers, Ade.

[Edward]

I have a color snap shot of a Luftwaffe flak Oberfeldwebel. He was a veteran of Stalingrad and Anzio and well decorated. The photo shows him wearing his full Oberfeldwebel walking out uniform including peaked cap, awards, and dagger. The photo was taken in 1970.

[TMurray]

Okay, this final piece of evidence should put this issue to bed

Here is an extract from Gottfried Dulias' biography:

In January and February of 1945, Gottfried shot down 3 Russian “Ratas”, Polikarpov I-16’s. Even though the I-16 was a much older aircraft, dating to Spanish Civil War days, the Russians needed to use whatever they could in their on-going battle with the Luftwaffe. During another dogfight with a Rata on March 4, 1945, Gottfried hit the Russian plane’s gas tank.

Now here is a link to a complied list of all OKL Fighter claims for 1945, see if you can match Mr. Dulias' claims.

http://math.fce.vutbr.cz/safarik/ACE...y-ww2-1945.pdf

[Willi Z.]

I hope you guys know what you are talking about. You make it sound like each and every detail of WWII is recorded in stone somewhere. I am not saying you are wrong, but you guys sure sound pretty confident in your allegations.

A number of German vets associated with re-enactment activities wear uniforms. For the most part it is the re-enactors who push this issue. LARA provided Gottfried with the uniform a few years ago and I think they "promoted" him as well. Their stories often get quickly blown out of proportion. These vets sometimes get carried away with the attention. Long overdue in some cases. I have met Gottfried a number of times over the last 5 or 6 years and have discussed a number of things with him. Are you also saying his book is bogus?

[TMurray]

I hope you guys know what you are talking about. You make it sound like each and every detail of WWII is recorded in stone somewhere. I am not saying you are wrong, but you guys sure sound pretty confident in your allegations.

A number of German vets associated with re-enactment activities wear uniforms. For the most part it is the re-enactors who push this issue. LARA provided Gottfried with the uniform a few years ago and I think they "promoted" him as well. Their stories often get quickly blown out of proportion. These vets sometimes get carried away with the attention. Long overdue in some cases. I have met Gottfried a number of times over the last 5 or 6 years and have discussed a number of things with him. Are you also saying his book is bogus?

Hi Willi, there is no doubt the period photo of Herr Dulias as a Flieger is legitimate. However, his story from there cannot be verified, there are no records of such an individual serving with 3./JG 53, there are no OKL Fighter Claims that match the dates he claims his five victories. There is serious doubt that the type of Soviet aircraft (I-16) was still in service in great numbers post 1943, yet he claims three in early 1945. There are no records of a Gottfried Dulias with 5 confirmed victories on either the JG 53 claims list or any other squadron. JG 53 veterans have never heard of him. I believe the weight of this evidence to be overwhelming, if you have the opportunity to discuss these issues with Gottfried to clear up this matter I would encourage you to take it on our behalf. I'm not sure if other details of his 'story' are true.

[Gunbunny]

This all reminds me of our local (Seattle, WA) Japanese "ace", Masajiro "Mike" Kawato who claimed to have shot down Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, eighteen other aircraft, and to have sunk a destroyer. He was a regular at our local gun show signing his largly fictional account of his war experiences. He could also be seen at the Great Western Gun Show and air shows. A photo shows him at the Planes of Fame museum dressed in full flight gear. He died recently and the local papers all bought into his charade. Kind of sad really, but like the fake green berets and bogus medal of honor winners out there it really dishonors the deeds of those whose performance under fire was genuine.