Ulrich Steinhilper was born 14 September 1918 in Stuttgart, Germany.   In 1936 after graduation from High School he passed a test for Luftwaffe flight training. He earned his Pilot's Badge and in 1939 was assigned to Jagdgeschwader fighter wing 433, where he was Adolf Galland's adjutant. .His unit, now redesignated JG-52, was assigned to protect the Ruhr region in the west during the 1939 invasion of Poland.  Steinhilper saw sporadic combat in the Battle of France flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter. Beginning in August 1940, he participated in the Battle of Britain. In two months, he flew over 150 sorties against England.  He  destroyed two or three Spitfires on the ground at RAF Manston on 19 August, but it was not until 19 September that he got his first aerial victory, a Spitfire. According to one source, his other four aerial victims were two Spitfires on 24 September, another on 30 September, and a Bristol Blenheim on 4 October.   Thus by allied standards an Ace.  Steinhilper was shot down on 27 October over Canterbury and made a prisoner of war.  This book details his early life thru his capture.   A follow up book from his capture on is also available "Ten Minutes to Buffalo."

This book Spitfire on my Tail is in NEW Condition and published in 1990.  It has been stored since purchase and never read.  It is has a bookplate signed  by Oberleutant Ulrich Steinhilper 3/JG 52  as pictured.