Well Chris
Since I tried to be the Devils advocate for a while and failed...
, I believe more and more in the Sterling theory being correct.
Strange that Pingel was so evasive in his letter to Andy, but since he was a highly experienced pilot, and memories DO tend to dull with the years, maybe he simply did not want to push the point. Being shot down is after all something you rarely aquire an experience in....
Cheers
Stig