Detlef Fleisher
- "Back then, I was bursting with pride. I wanted to lead us to victory, for Belka's honor."
- ― Detlef Fleisher to Brett Thompson, Warriors and the Belkan War[1]
Lieutenant Colonel Detlef Fleisher, callsign Stolz and nicknamed "Red Swallow", was an ace pilot of the Belkan Air Force, Rot Team's commander, and one of Belka's most famous pilots.
Coming from a patriotic military family, Fleisher's cunning and nationalistic pride along with his combat record earned him widespread fame in Belka until he was shot down by Galm Team during the Belkan War. Evading punishment as a war criminal after the war's end, he became a university professor of history.
Etymology
Stolz is the German phrase for "pride", resembling Fleisher's family background and attitude.
Biography
Early life
Born in the Belkan capital Dinsmark in 1967 to a military family, Fleisher was admitted to the Scheindel Military Academy after finishing high school. His bold and calm tactical thinking separated him from his peers, graduating at the top of his class. Following his graduation from the academy, Lieutenant General Reinhard Dahl of the Belkan Air Force's intelligence department effectively convinced Fleisher to join the BAF. Dahl viewed him to as an ideal "poster boy" for the Air Force due to Fleisher's strong patriotism, handsome appearance, and genius as a soldier. Despite Dahl's optimistic views, Fleisher's national pride made it his priority to be a fighter pilot, leaving Dahl worried whenever he was deployed on missions.[1][2]
Fleisher's battle record started in May 10, 1994, destroying three Ustian Su-27 Flankers over the strategic airspace Area B7R. Following this incident, his cunning and calm, analytic combat strategies earned him the title of ace. Five days later, on May 15, he eliminated a flight of five F-16C Fighting Falcons in two sorties, earning him the Belkan Silver Cross Award and widespread fame across Belka, being featured in military propaganda across the country and earning the nickname "Red Swallow".[1][2]
Belkan War
- "Rot 1 to all craft. Time to hunt some wild dogs. Down them all."
- ― Fleisher during Operation Choker One[3]
After the Belkan War commenced on March 25, 1995, Belkan newspapers praised the actions of Fleisher's Rot Team in the war's early phases. With his fame growing, people close to him started persuading him to move into safer areas in the military, but he declined due to his responsibilities, choosing to fight on the frontlines.[2]
On April 20, a pair of Ustian mercenaries overwhelmed the Belkan forces stationed at Area B7R. His pride damaged by the ongoing events, Fleisher headed into the Round Table alongside with his squadron. After a fierce duel, however, Galm Team eventually gained the upper hand and shot down the entirety of Rot Team, killing all of its members except Fleisher.[3]
Landing his aircraft successfully and surviving the encounter with Galm Team, Fleisher was rescued from B7R, continuing his service as a base commander until the war's end.[2][4]
Postwar
- "My pride was shot and the Round Table was defiled. What went wrong? Whatever it may be, the fact remains I was forced to walk a different path in life than the one I had envisioned."
- ― Fleisher to Thompson[1]
Following the Belkan War, Fleisher was tried as a war criminal. He evaded immediate punishment and remained in Belka, where he became a history professor at the University of Dinsmark.[2][4]
Ten years later, in 2005, Fleisher would be one of the first aces interviewed by Osean reporter Brett Thompson for his documentary, "Warriors and the Belkan War", in which he showed grief of losing against mercenaries and explaining the effect that his defeat in B7R had on his views and path in life.[1][5]
Gallery
Detlef Fleisher with Belkan Air Force uniform in a photo
Detlef Fleisher interview intro
Detlef Fleisher exercising as history teacher in the University of Dinsmark during his interview
Propaganda in a Belkan newspaper during the Belkan War about Detlef Fleisher's achievements
Detlef Fleisher military rank and insignia in his uniform
Detlef Fleisher's Typhoon
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Scene 05M: "A Pilot That Lives by Pride / 1", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Belkan Air Power - First Edition, Detlef Fleisher section
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mission 03M: "The Round Table" (Mercenary), Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War - Assault Records, #010 - Detlef Fleisher
- ↑ Scene 12M: "A Pilot That Lives by Pride / 2", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.