I was watching a rerun of Hogan’s Heroes a while back, the episode where Klink and Hogan go to England to “steal” a P-51. The episode got me to thinking, I don’t think it’s ever said what Hogan was flying when he got shot down and ended up at Stalag 13. Was Col. Hogan a bomber pilot? Or was he a fighter pilot? An inquiring mind wants to know.
According to Wiki, he commanded the 504th BG. But they operated in the PTO flying B-29’s.
I always assumed he was a bomber pilot, in a B17 or B24. There was an episode where the group kidnapped a Luftwaffe general and used his plane to bomb a chemical factory or ball bearing plant with Hogan as pilot.
Qualified in whatever aircraft the script called for him to be qualified in. 
Yeah, continuity in sitcoms isn’t a big thing. Even in a more recent/modern sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, there were all sorts of inconsistencies.
Well, I’ve got the series DVD set. I watched it back in the fall. I’ll have to watch it again and see if I can tell.
It’s fun to watch and see all of the character actors who appeared in various episodes, some as repeat characters, and some as different characters in different appearances.
I always assumed Hogan was a B-17 pilot and Klink a 109. Not really sure where I got that though.
I don’t remember if Klink flew in WWII, or if he had last flown before the war. He does have the 1939 clasp to his Iron Cross, which suggests he served in the Great War and was awarded the first one, and then served in WWII and was awarded another Iron Cross. Of course, that could have been a costumer’s choice. He’s got the Pickelhaube on his desk, but I don’t think it’s ever stated whether it’s his or someone else’s.
Klink is supposed to be older than Hogan, and I know there are references to his experience in the university and coming up as an officer (he was a failure, last in his class, etc). At least one episode features an old university pal of Klink’s, who was naturally more successful than Klink.
Also, Klink makes a comment in one episode that indicates he’s a noble (though without a “von”), but that his family was penniless. He comes into some money, and remarks, “I have a 500-year-old aristocratic name, and now I have some money to go with it!”
I could have sworn he was a B’17 pilot.
However, I would like to point out that if he got " shot down" ,maybe he wasn’t qualified???
Besides, he was a secret agent. The Germans just thought he was a pilot…
Maybe he was actually just a O.S.I. desk jockey…
Klink was a WWI pilot, they made several references to his former squadron mates and how he gave them their current limp, scar, etc. I believe they specifically mentioned the year 1917 as the year Klink caused an accident that left “The Blue Baron,” Germany’s fictional highest scoring WWI Ace and member of the same squadron with Klink, unable to dance.
There was also a time he said he was not trained on the current aircraft, but who knows if that was true or just a dodge to get out of a transfer to the Eastern Front.
I think Klink was 49 years old, per an episode where he was training for an upcoming physical and Carter guessed he was 59 and 69 years old.
Yes, I have seen all these show way too many times, and still rewatch the nighly episodes on MeTV because it is probably my favorite show ever. [:P]
I think I remember an episode where Klink relates his WW1 combat experience and mentions flying a Heinkel …I don’t think Heinkels were made during WW1!
Funny you mention that.
I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite show ever…but it’s about the only show from that era that I never get tired of watching. I saw pretty much the whole series in first run, and have seen each episode dozens of times since over the years, and as absurd as it is, I still feel that surge of child-like (or childish?) joy when I hear the drumbeat and see the scrambling feet of the opening sequence. [:D]
(And one of my favorite amusements while watching is scanning the distance in long outside shots…looking past the ‘fake snow’-covered barracks roofs…for the occasional palm tree that can be glimpsed, when the cameraman hasn’t quite set up the shot properly!)
Hi,
I seem to recall an episode once where there was some German Intelligence officer that claimed he studied Hogan’s tactics (when Hogan was leading his bombing group) in order to develope a plan to defeat him as a bomber squadron leader in order to make a plan to defeat him. (see List of Hogan’s Heroes characters - Wikipedia)
Looking at the Internet Movie Database it looks like this may have been the 1st Episode of the 2nd season entitled “Hogan Gives a Birthday Party”
"Hogan’s Heroes" Hogan Gives a Birthday Party (TV Episode 1966) - IMDb
As such, it was my understanding that Hogan was meant to be just a regular Bomber Group Commander prior to capture, who fell into the role of running the escape organization, rather than some sort of intelligence officer secretly sent by the Allies to set up an organization.
Your right, maybe favorite show ever was a bit strong…but it is certainly in mytop 10. It never grows old to me.
There was an interesting Youtube video that explored the studio lot, with aerial shots comparing it in the 60s versus today. Naturally it is paved over and filled with studio buildings.
The same lot also had the exterior sets for the Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, USMC.
Not to be surly, but a comedy abouit German POW camps never held my interest.
I would say bomber; Eigth, beyond that?
My Father refused to have anything to do with any WWII program and after hearing some of the things he did I can understand it.
Anyway, I don’t remember the show mentioning what Hogan flew, but I do remember that lawyer Oliver Douglas on Green Acres flew a P-38 and on one mission bombed a German gun in a field and rreported the gun was destroyed an there was tomato sauce everywhere.