His humour also extended to combat. on one occasion, a junior pilot strayed away from the protection of his formation over England. Realising he was alone and crying out for help
Priller seeing him, quipped, ‘don’t worry two Spitfires are closing on you from behind. You won’t be alone for much longer.’
\Apolitical, his sense of humour and propensity to talk back, was not appreciated by his superiors. Although it didn’t stop his steady rise in rank and in November 1940, posted to JG 26 he was appointed Staffelkapitän. The ‘Abberville Boys’ had a fearsome reputation, one Priller enhanced with a rising kill tally. By the beginning of 1943 Priller was appointed Kommodore of JG 26. the same year his total reached triple figures.
Priller and his wingman were immortalised in the movie ‘The Longest Day’.
Suffering a hangover from a night of heavy drinking, he took off to attack the Normandy beaches on the morning of the 6th June.
Pips provided technical assistance for the movie and ensured his part was faithfully portrayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxbEv2xMnU
Josef “Pips” Priller flew 1,307 combat missions, all in the West, shooting down 101 aircraft.
He was the highest scoring Spitfire ace claiming 68 and unlike many Luftwaffe aces, was never shot down himself.
After the war, Priller married into and managed a brewery in Bavaria until his death in 1961 of a heart attack aged 45
Priller with Kurt Tank, France circa 1940
