Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Hi All

I am currently looking at the career of Frenchman Commandant Christian Martell and one of his crowning achievements is the aerial victory over a German ace, Major Von Graff but all I can discover is that a Major Hermann Graf crashed as a result of colliding with a P51 Mustang on 23/03/1944. Have I got the wrong Von Graff? or has Wikipedia got the story wrong? The story I am referring to is in the following website on Martell and I would appreciate any help in finding the correct Von Graff if this is not the one.

http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/653.html


Many thanks in advance,
Russ

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

There is no documented 'von Graff' that was an ace or a fighter pilot for that matter. Hermann Graf maybe. There are certainly, along with Hermann, a number of Grafs, Gräfs, Grafes, Gräfes, Graffs, Gräffs & Graefs listed amongst documented losses & claims, a few of whom were 'aces', the highest scorer in my data, other than Hermann, being a Kurt Graf with 16 claims from JG 51. Take your pick.

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Hi Jim,

I know about Herman Graf but it seems unlikely he was the Graff (Graf) shot down by Martell since it appears to be well documented that he was in a collision with a P51. The information I have on Martell is a bit sketchy and all in French so which Graff it is I don't know. I do not even have a date for the victory.

Many thanks for your help however,

Russ

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

not Clostermann's "memoir" again

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Nope,

Nothing whatsoever to do with Clostermann,

I am researching the crash site and susequent death of Christian Martell at RAF Ouston of in August 1945. Together with the circumstances of the crash I was keen to look at the career and record of Martell.

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Does not Chroster Bergstroom mentions this in his book Graf Grislawski???
I think I have heard/read this matching somewhere already...

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Bergström has dedicated an appendix about this in his book about Graf and Grislawski and as I recall it, no wellknown aces were shot down on the day (or days around) the date mentioned in Clostermanns book as the date of Martell's victory.

By the way, I got the impression from some earlier discussion on the subject that Martell wasn't his real name - or did I get that wrong somehow?

/Anders

Re: Major Von Graff - German Ace - Christian Martell
 

Hi Anders,

His real name was Lucien Montet.

Regards,
Michal