Leading Edge Slats on the Me-109

[Glider]

Originally Posted by CWMV

Oberleutnant Erwin Leykauf said, ‘For us, the more experienced pilots, real
manoeuvring only started when the slats were out.'

From Messerschmitt Bf 109 at War. Pretty common statement. Ive seen interviews with Rall where he said the same thing.

The key of course are the words 'the more experienced pilots'. As the war went on the proportion of experienced pilots fell dramatically.