[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

So the possible 'solution' to this case is:

1. Meissler develop engine problems while over Soviet held territory
2. Meissler tries to get back to his own lines despite the engine acting up
3. Two Yak's spot the aircraft of Meissler and pursue him and tries to force him to land
4. After several attempts to evade Meissler give up and belly lands his aircraft after being fired at - not in an attempt to shoot him down and kill him but as warning shots to force him down.
5. The Soviet propaganda and intelligence machinery gets moving

I guess that even Andrey must now realize that the events of the day may be closer to Meissler's own recollections than his attempts to discredit him as a liar.

That this particular case seems to support the story told by the pilot on the German side does not then mean that there was no attempts to glorify ones own history from members of the Wehrmacht. But it shows that we should all be careful not to discredit people using their name
without being entirely sure of the facts of the case.

I know from my own research both home in Norway, Finland, Germany and Russia that it is very hard for veterans of that period to be objective to what they were involved in event 70 years later, even if there are numerous examples of former foes becoming friends the underlying distrust and in some cases pure hatred is still there.

Surprisingly the most hateful pilot with regards to the Germans I have ever met was a US veteran which in the end turned out never to have flown a combat mission in Europe at all...

Regards,
Andreas B