Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Beale
I always wondered why he had that letter from Broadhurst. I don't remember reading that any other 2TAF pilot had (or requested) one, or did every successful pilot receive such a letter from the Air Marshal?
|
I have hesitated to join this discussion, but since most of us have our own opinion about Clostermann
and his claims, here I go...
I think we need to look at the post war political situation in France where
a) the Communist Party/cause was quite strong
b) de Gaulle desperately trying to hold on to power.
At that point it would no do to have the French top ace to be someone from the
Eastern Front - Normandie Niemen - to take that credit.
Since no Western political leader wanted to have any bonus coming the communist way,
de Gaulle probably asked Churchill to provide him (Clostermann) with a document
proving he was the top ace!
Remember that Clostermann was very much a de Gaulle man himself.
Broadhurst, willing or not, was tasked to produce the by now infamous document and that is
where the official French view now rests.
Cheers
Stig