Geoffrey Sinclair
November 14th 03, 02:39 AM
Alan Dicey wrote in message ...
>I have Closermann's book "The Big Show" (don't know what the original
>French title was; the english copy includes a credit for Oliver Berthoud
>as translator). In the three-page chapter titled "Walter Nowotny", he wrote
>
>"On 15th March last I was leading a section of four Tempests in a rat
>scramble over Rheine/Hopsten at 8,000 feet. Suddenly we saw at ground
>level a Messerschmitt 262 without any camouflage, its polished wings
>glittering in the sun. It was already in the flak corridor and about to
>put down. The barrage of tracers was already up to cover its approach.
> In accordance with the new orders I decided not to attack in these
>conditions when, without warning, my number 4 dived vertically towards
>the small bright dot which was nearing the long cement runway. Hurtling
>throught the air like a bullet Bob Clark miraculously went through the
>wall of flak without being hit and fired a long burst at the silvery Me
>262, which was in the final phase of its approach. The Messerschmitt
>crashed in flames at the edge of the airfield.
> A fortnight later we learned by cross-checking captured documents
>and prisoners' reports that the Me 262 had been piloted by Nowotny."
>
>I can see no reason to doubt Clostermann's account, which in any case
>can be cross-checked against the records (by someone who is familiar
>enough with them and has access, which is not me).
Problems,
Nowotny was killed on 8 November 1944 after being in combat with
USAAF aircraft.
The book Typhoon and Tempest Story by Chris Thomas and
Christopher Shores has a list of all kill claims by Typhoon and
Tempest Pilots.
Nothing on 15 March 1945 for Tempests.
Does not seem to be any claims by a Clark at any time.
For what it is worth the kill claims for P H Clostermann flying
Tempests are,
Bf109 5 March 1945
Fw190 2 April 1945
2 Fw190 20 April 1945
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.
>I have Closermann's book "The Big Show" (don't know what the original
>French title was; the english copy includes a credit for Oliver Berthoud
>as translator). In the three-page chapter titled "Walter Nowotny", he wrote
>
>"On 15th March last I was leading a section of four Tempests in a rat
>scramble over Rheine/Hopsten at 8,000 feet. Suddenly we saw at ground
>level a Messerschmitt 262 without any camouflage, its polished wings
>glittering in the sun. It was already in the flak corridor and about to
>put down. The barrage of tracers was already up to cover its approach.
> In accordance with the new orders I decided not to attack in these
>conditions when, without warning, my number 4 dived vertically towards
>the small bright dot which was nearing the long cement runway. Hurtling
>throught the air like a bullet Bob Clark miraculously went through the
>wall of flak without being hit and fired a long burst at the silvery Me
>262, which was in the final phase of its approach. The Messerschmitt
>crashed in flames at the edge of the airfield.
> A fortnight later we learned by cross-checking captured documents
>and prisoners' reports that the Me 262 had been piloted by Nowotny."
>
>I can see no reason to doubt Clostermann's account, which in any case
>can be cross-checked against the records (by someone who is familiar
>enough with them and has access, which is not me).
Problems,
Nowotny was killed on 8 November 1944 after being in combat with
USAAF aircraft.
The book Typhoon and Tempest Story by Chris Thomas and
Christopher Shores has a list of all kill claims by Typhoon and
Tempest Pilots.
Nothing on 15 March 1945 for Tempests.
Does not seem to be any claims by a Clark at any time.
For what it is worth the kill claims for P H Clostermann flying
Tempests are,
Bf109 5 March 1945
Fw190 2 April 1945
2 Fw190 20 April 1945
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.