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Halifax mystery
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. |
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