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Old 28th February 2006, 21:18
ssipila ssipila is offline
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Re: JG77's 109s shot down by Pattle, April '41

A detailed eyewitness account about 10+~ is given by none other than Roald Dahl in his memoirs "Going Solo". He was a young Hurricane pilot of 80 Squadron based at Eleusis on 20 April 1941 and took part in the big aerial battle over Athens on that day.

He gives a detailed account about several 109's strafing the airfield after he had landed. He describes one of them getting hit by the airfield's Bofors gun and making a belly landing with its engine on fire. The pilot was captured and taken away in the back of a lorry. Dahl makes no mention of Pattle or any other Hurricane attacking the strafing 109's.

In the book there is a photo showing 10+~ lying on its belly, with the caption "Me 109 crashed, Eleusis". I assume the picture was taken by Dahl himself as no other source is mentioned (he had a camera, and there are several unique RAF-related photos from e.g. Egypt, Greece and Palestine in the book). In this picture, 10+~ is shown from rear right, with the right wingtip covered by something that appears to be dark cloth. There are a couple of Brits in dark uniforms and white (?) helmets standing in front of the cockpit peeking in.

It's anecdotal evidence, but quite detailed and with a photo. Dahl's eyewitness account is consistent with Luftwaffe's report about 10+~ - "lost to flak".

It's a great book by a great writer, by the way - a lot of fun to read and about half of it is aviation
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