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Old 3rd February 2012, 22:19
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Andreas Brekken Andreas Brekken is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Aurskog, Norway
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Re: Hartmann on the 20Oct43

Hi.

I believe this must have been one of two:

- Complete and utter combat induced delusion

- The recollection of this mission has been mixed up with events from another mission

The cannon of a P39 was afaik the 37mm M4, firing a shell that even if it was an armour-piercing one would blow straight through the engine of a Messerschmitt, rendering it completely useless, and if it went through the cockpit as described make minced meat of the pilot inside.

Three hits from a 37mm in the close vicinity of the cockpit seems an unlikely case for a below 10% damage to the said aircraft.

Regards,
Andreas B
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