Guys
We need to be fair to our old heroes...
Ms Clostermann (and all those who wrote their memoires during the 1950's and 60's) never could imagine that their memories would one day be scrutinized word by word by armchair warriors aka historians like us. Had they known, they would probably have formulated themselves rather differently or perhaps even kept a total silence.
Back then, a story was a good story, regardless if you remembered the correct day or not, if your memory matched your combat report or if in fact you were there in the first place at all. Once your statements had been accepted as Gospel, many found it hard to change them since they had become sort of Myths and the older you got the harder it was to correct your memories, they have become a part of you!
I know that Pierre never came close to being the 33 victory ace that the created Myth (and politics!) turned him into. Personally I don't care, since I owe Pierre Clostermann a debt no one else can compare with. He got me into this "racket" for good and for bad, and so far I have never regretted a single moment, since I have met so many interesting individuals on the 'net', not least on these pages, that it has been worth it many, many times over.
So, here's to You Pierre!
Cheers
Stig