LW pilot Gottfied Dulias

[behblc]

A reasonable point.

Craig has a reasonable point - this thread will run forever be he an ace or be he not.

[TMurray]

Okay, I have met Gottfried Dullias twice at the MAAM's World War II Weekend. Contrary to what anyone has heard or thought, at this point it is somewhat impossible to verify or discredit his claim of service in the Luftwaffe. What troubles me is that people would have the audacity to assert that he is not who he says he is even though they cannot truly disprove 100% his claim. If fellow Luftwaffe veterans want to come out against him, that is one thing. But for people who are not WWII veterans to make claims against him is very cruel. No one said that you have to buy a book or photo from him. I have no strong opinion one way or another, becuase there is no way that I can know for certain. German military records circa 1945 were often not always acurate or well kept, and were often lost in the last months of the war. What we do know is that he did serve in some shape or form in the German Luftwaffe, so I think that it is rude of people to make any negative comment about a veteran that served without 100% conclusive evidence, which will likely never be attained. So for those who want to make wise cracks and take jabs at him, all I can say is lay off. He is an older gentleman and deserves some level of respect.

Matt M. Greensboro, NC

You've missed the point entirely. No-one doubts he served in the Luftwaffe. The problem is his assertion that he claims to be an ace with 5 'kills'. There is no evidence to corroborate this claim and Dulias is at best 'fuzzy' when pressed for facts or evidence supporting this claim. The problem I have is that he is yet to substantiate his victories but promotes himself as an ace, this is a slap in the face to true veterans, both Allied and Axis. Unfortunately, his memory loss, lack of detail on units he flew with, dates, times, type of aircraft destroyed, photos of him with different ranks, awards etc lend no credibility to his story. IMO, he deserves no respect but please feel free to help yourself to "another bowl of Kapusta"

[Bobwirtz]

Craig,

Many of the members made the case on the first four pages of this thread against Dulias. This is now a repository to point people interested in this subject. I have emailed the URL of this thread to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM) prior to this year's WWII Weekend, which happened last weekend. They in turn denied him official sanction and a table in the main hanger with which he could set up and sell his books. He was there (unofficially) in the reenactor section selling his books, but not officially acknowledged by the MAAM. I also sent this URL to a friend who is attending the Air Command & Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL when I found out that Dulias was scheduled to be an "Eagle" at the Gathering down there. Unfortunately he is still going to be there as it was too late to withdraw him (and which I feel there is going to be some ripple effects). In 2005, prior to the MAAM's WWII Weekend, I noticed that "Gerhard von Friedrich" was an invited VIP to take part in the festivities. I emailed and called them on the phone with the information that this man was a fraud. They in turn questioned him and he withdrew. So I have been actively notifying organizations with activities that these men are invited to. How many people do you think are going to buy such a book as you have recommended? I get the word out as best I can and in the case of Mr. Dulias I have this thread that I can point people to and let them read it and decide for themselves if they want to investigate and take the appropriate action. I don't see what more that I can do.

Bob

[TMurray]

Good on you Bob!

[Craigob]

Fresh from reading ww2 weekend - pic is on there official site under VIP guests - http://www.maam.org/wwii/photos/guests/ww2_spcl.htm

[Tiger 1]

Wow again!

Pilot Observer's badge, Retired Pilot's badge , Adjutant's cord, No EKII ribbon but a Russian Front ribbon and what looks to be a Geschwader Dulias cuff title!

Oh well, everybody has their personal; fantasies.

Just one concrete shred of evidence that could be verified independently would put all this speculation to rest.


Tony

[Bobwirtz]

This year he was probably registered as a reenactor. I know he was not set up in the main hanger with Walter Schuck, Theodor van Kirk and the other veterans. He was last year but not this year. I did what I could do... can lead a horse to water, but...

Bob

[Richard]

Good job Bob. Kudos to you!
Richard V

[TMurray]

Wow again!

Pilot Observer's badge, Retired Pilot's badge , Adjutant's cord, No EKII ribbon but a Russian Front ribbon and what looks to be a Geschwader Dulias cuff title!

Oh well, everybody has their personal; fantasies.

Just one concrete shred of evidence that could be verified independently would put all this speculation to rest.


Tony

What a phoney!!!

[Bobwirtz]

Good job Bob. Kudos to you!
Richard V

Thanks Richard. I'm just trying to do what I believe is right and fair to those who were the real heroes and the ones who did the combat, etc. I don't doubt that Herr Dulias was an enlisted man in the Luftwaffe but I have serious doubts about the rest of his story. Just be who you are. What's wrong with that? We can't all be in the lime light. Somebody has to be out here and cheer.

Bob

[Simon O.]

Anyone tried the Deutsche Dienststelle?
http://dd-wast.javabase.de/frame_e.htm

They'll have his military service records. That should put the matter to bed.

[VonStigler1]

That cufftitle really takes the cake. Geschwader Dulias? Come on people, no respecting Luftwaffe ace would come up with something like that and wear it. The determination is final for me, this guy is in la-la land.
Regards,
Brian

[TMurray]

That cufftitle really takes the cake. Geschwader Dulias? Come on people, no respecting Luftwaffe ace would come up with something like that and wear it. The determination is final for me, this guy is in la-la land.
Regards,
Brian

I'm with you Brian, to all you supporters of Herr Dulias, please explain?

[CWP]

I'm sure the cufftitle is an honorary thing bestowed on him by his reenactor friends who look up to him as someone who lived through the events they are trying to recreate. Notice that the CT is not even sewn to his arm. I am sure the old man was honored to get this special CT made just for him by his grateful friends in the reenacting world. This type of stuff happens all the time at reenactments. I know it is wierd and hard to understand, especially to people who aren't from America. But that goes hand in hand with the adulation and star treatment accorded veterans at reenactments. It shouldn't be misconstrued as a person claiming awards they did not earn. It seems clear that Dulias was there in a reenactment capacity.

Reenacting is a really wierd hobby. I know a man who fooled hundreds of reenactors into believing he was an officer in the SS and a Panzer commander. In reality, he was an SS panzer mechanic. He told me openly that he said he was a commander because the same reenactors asked him the same questions time and time again and never remembered the answers so at some point, he started telling them what they wanted to hear, and the reenactors ate it up. His feeling was that since he was really there in the SS in WWII, and no one can take that away from him, what difference did it make what story he told to these reenactors, who wouldn't remember it anyway? You have to understand the wierd hobby of reenacting and the hero worship accorded to veterans to understand how easily this can happen. Especially for an elderly man in his twilight years. I'm not defending these men, but I feel that some of the harshest criticism may be unwarranted.

[pzrwest]

Farb farb, farb king of the farbs