Interrogation of Leutnant Neumann
At Kaufbeuren, Germany, 28 August 1945
a.Russian
Yak-3, -5 and -7 were the fighter types most commonly used. With the exception of the Yak-3 they were all too slow but good in turning ability. The Yak 3 was named the ‘Spitfire of the East’. All types of R/T’s were non-existent. Methods of communications were old and primitive.
b.American
Mustang. This was a good long range fighter. Guns were efficient against fighters but not against bombers. Thunderbolt. This was the best fighter-bomber.
Lightning. A good escort fighter for long range over water missions as it could be flown with only one engine. It had a most efficient armament set-up as all the guns were grouped in the nose.
c.British
Tempest. This was considered to be the fastest aircraft.
Typhoon. This was a very fast aircraft, but weak in a curving fight.
Neumann knows very little about Allied R/T and knew nothing of the tail radar used by Allied night bombers.
a.Russian. The Russians were weak as fighter pilots. Neumann noticed great progress in Russian tactics and equipment since the spring of 1944.
b.American. The American fighter pilot had great self-confidence and possessed a high fighting spirit. Neumann states that Americans had no discipline and spoke of some shooting of German pilots in their parachutes.
c.British. No opinions.
a.Russian – Neumann doubted that the Russian ever had any suitable or good tactics. They continually had to be forced to the attack. Russian dive-bombing was always bad and very rarely used.
c.American and British – He makes no statements on tactics. Neumann claims they were beaten by a great superiority of material.