[flr9003]

Hi all...this is my first post here. I am not a historian nor an expert as many of you here are. However, I DO know a 'little'. My father was a B-17 bomber pilot during the war and THAT is easily verifiable. He was in the 603rd 398th and I was saddened to find this thread.

As you see, I visited the American War Power Museum on this past Memorial Day and...for the first time in my life, I met a 'Luftwaffe pilot'. Yes...I met Herr Dulias and paid for his autograph for my kids. He was dressed in the same white outfit that is posted here in a a photograph. He told me that he was stationed in Aachen. Other facts that he told me:
-that he was flying solo and found a sole Spitfire, approached him from underneath and hit him with a single shot from his cannon...and the pilot saluted him from his parachute
-I told him the fear that my father had while flying against the Focke Wulfe. My dad used to tell me that the FW109's used to approach from the nose and peel off down and away.....Dulias told me that they flew between the 17's sideways
-he did tell me that he did NOT fly against the 17's but attacked support, mostly Spitfire's and did say he was shot down pursuing a Russian plane and then was captured and sent to a Gulag.

I am truly saddened if this was all a hoax. My dad, flying at the same time, could tell you how much gas his 17 used..he could tell you how to back up a 17...knew all his squadron leader's names..knew every crew members name (heck..I could tell you them)..even knew every mission. He signed our photos...with the JG53/Spade insignia...with "Horrido!".

I hope...that someone here can finally lend creedence to this. History IS important. I would hate to give his autograph, framed, ..to my son...along with my father's throat mike, bailout bell, full uniform, flight helmet, arming pins, etc...if it were fake.

BTW...if anyone is interested in anything I have on my dad...feel free to email.

FLR