Why did the Third Reich equip aircraft with flamethrowers? This device is recorded and documented and on video. But how was this unusual tactic supposed to protect the pilots from the enemy?
For the first time, it was Ober-Lieutenant Otto Stahl of the well-known Edelweiss unit, KG 51, who suggested testing flamethrowers. Such a weapon was not suitable for an attack for sure, but it was going to be used differently.
Flamethrowers were placed at the rear of the fuselage. They had to force the enemy to stop the attack not because of the stream of fire, but because of the soot and smoke - they blocked the pilot's view.
Flamethrowers successfully passed tests and were even used at the front against British fighters. However, the pilots quickly figured out simply not to come closer than 350 meters.
In addition, the Luftwaffe pilots themselves began to complain about heavy and unsafe weapons. The command came to the conclusion that a tank filled with a combustible mixture would indeed rather damage the aircraft and the project was abandoned.