Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

In Hermann's Dora book it is mentioned that a Tempest and a Dora-9 or 13 had a mock dogfight on June 25 1945. The fight took place near Husum.

The Tempest was flown by a Canadian pilot.

Who was the Tempest pilot and what squadron did the a/c come from?

I have Tempests on June 25 based at:

3 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
33 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger.
56 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
80 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
222 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger. (from 25 June, before that in GB)
274 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger.
486 Sqd - B172, Husum Ger.

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

Kutscha,

I knew a Canadian pilot who witnessed the whole event and when I get home this evening, I'll check to see what Squadron he was with at the time. It might provide a clue as to the Squadron and pilot.

Stephen

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

Thanks Stephen. Any success?

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

Kutscha,

Yes and No. The pilot I had in mind was Bernard C. 'Buck' Kirlin, but he flew Tempests after the war on a Fighter Leaders Course in England. During the war he was with No.438 Squadron R.C.A.F. and there was a series of pictures taken of him and another "Wildcat" pilot, around these Doras and one of them shows the two of them standing in front of the D-13. It's been published before but I can't recall where. Maybe in Eagle Editions little primer "Yellow 10"? Some of these photos appear in several well known publications: Broken Eagles I and Don Caldwells' JG-26 War Diary Vol.II. By the time I got to know 'Buck' he only had one photo left from this series and and this one was published in JG-26 Vol.II. Who knows what happened to the others but I know he didn't loose them or miss-place them.

So, maybe knowing where 438 Squadron was based during the period in question might provide a clue? Who knows, maybe they were sharing an airfield with a Tempest Squadron - I don't know but it might be worth looking into?

Have you checked the ORB's of the Tempest Squadrons in question to see if there was any mention of this event?

Stephen

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

I have a suspicion this was New Zealander Evan Mackie, but can't confirm from resources to hand.

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

Thanks Stephen.

I have 438 as a Typhoon squadron based at B166, Flensburg. I have listed the Tempest squadron bases. 486 is a NZ Tempest squadron. Is it possible that it was a NZ pilot that flew the mock combat? (edit: I see Graham posted while I was writting my post)

I wouldn't know where to find the ORBs.

Re: Tempest-Dora flyoff
 

I'm sorry I never interviewed Buck about this incident. I'm kicking myself now for not recording the story on tape but I can still remember Buck telling me that he was more than surprised that the German pilot, when he first approached the Allied C.O. about the fly-off, he called him "Chiefy".

I'm sure there's more to the story...

Stephen