Living as a youngster just some 15 km from a Luftwaffe flight school Reschke developed his interest to become an aviator. In February 1940 he moved closer to his goal when he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe and following his medical assessment was accepted.

One year later, on 4 February 1941, Willi Reschke joined the Luftwaffe. First he trained as a technician but began flight-training in late spring 1942. On 6 April 1943, flight training continued at Neisse (present-day Nysa), Poland.

There he learned to fly different types such as the Klemm Kl 25, Arado Ar 66, Focke Wulf Fw 56 and the Arado Ar 96 with a focus on formation flying, cross-country traverses and aerobatics. Additionally, he also took classroom courses in navigation.

Reschke completed flight training on 27 June 1943, and was presented with the Flugzeugführerabzeichen. On 23 October 1943, Reschke served with Jagdgeschwader 102 formerly in Zerbst to undergo operational training.

On 13 June 1944, Reschke continued his training with EJG West EJGr. West, a supplementary training unit for fighter pilots destined to fight on the Western Front and over the next three days completed 21 combat simulation flights.

Finally, on 20 June 1944, Uffz. Reschke was posted to 1./JG 302. On 2 July, he claimed his first victory when he shot down two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers over Budapest.

And during a two month period Reschke claimed another 12 bombers, five more B-24s, seven B-17s, and, one P-51 Mustang. After re-equipping with the Focke Wulf 190 A-8, I./JG 302 was re-designated as III./JG 301.

As a 9. Staffel pilot, Reschke continued to take the fight to the USAAF bomber streams while many in the Jagdwaffe were marked by the impending defeat. In less than two months Reschke scored another ten Abschüsse; three USAAF fighters and seven four-engine bombers.

During the spring of 1945, Reschke was posted to JG 301's crack Geschwaderstab equipped with the new Ta 152 H, arguably the best piston-engine fighter in the Luftwaffe. On 14 April he shot down the Tempest flown by W/O O. J. Mitchell of No. 486 Squadron RAF.

On 20 April, Oberfeldwebel Reschke was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his 25 victories. Four days later, five Ta 152s tangled with a formation of Soviet Yak-9s over Berlin, ending with Reschke downing two of them for the loss of one Ta 152.

Willi Reschke was one of the last generation of Luftwaffe Experten, flying around 70 combat missions and returning with some 27 confirmed victories.

"Green 9" was within the last small group of Ta 152 Hs completed by Focke-Wulf Cottbus in late February/early March 1945 and used operationally. Its upper surface camouflage colors were RLM 81 dark green and RLM 82 light green with RLM 76 grey-blue applied to the fuselage sides and under sides. Wing undersides were finished in in this color though with the rear half of the main wing left unpainted in natural metal.

Note that the narrow horizontal bar superimposed on the JG 301 yellow/red tailband was green, signifying an aircraft from the Geschwaderstab. This marking was applied to most of the Geschwader's aircraft and in the color of the respective Gruppe. The spinner was also painted RLM 26 green with a narrow white spiral band.

This updated Ta 152 was as profile No 205 included in my latest profile book, The Eastern Front Limited Edidtion, with 230 profiles and published in 200 numbered copies.