Clyde East ( 15TRS )

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night to all.
I am working as some members of this Forum ( MICHAL particularly ) on the victories of Clyde East, a recon ace from 15th TRS.
On 6th June 1944 he shot down 2 Fw 190 from III/SG 4 near Laval, while the Focke Wulfs were circling for landing
On the 17th December 1944, he obtained another victory ( where? Which time? What kind of German aircraft )?
On 15th March 1945, he shot down a Bf 109 at 13:00hs near Aschaffenberg ( thanks Mr Frank Olynik )
On the 24th March 1945, he obtained 2 victories over Bf 109 aircraft ( anybody do know the place and time of these claims )?
Again on the 27th March 1945 he scored a double ( which kind of German aircraft? Where? Which time? )
On 04th April 1945 he is credited again with one victory ( where? Type? Local ? )
Finally, MICHAL says he and he wingman shot down 4 Junkers Ju 87 G from III/SG 2 for his final claims on 8th April 1945.

Any information about the victories of 17th December 1944 ( I do know JG 27, JG 77 and JG 26 lost aircrafts that day over Germany and Europe ) as well as 24 and 27 March and 04th April would be welcomed.
Any kind of information ( type of aircraft shot down, time, etc.. )
Do hope someone else with the same interest would help to clarify all his claims.
Many thanks to those who will answer
Yours
Adriano Baumgartner

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Oh..found something about Clyde East:
June 6, 44 1 Fw 190
December 17, 44 1 Bf 109
March 15, 45 1 Bf 109
March 24, 45 2 Bf 109
March 27, 45 2 Ju 87
April 4, 45 1 Fw 190, 1/2 Ju 188
April 8, 45 2 Ju 87, 1 Si 204, 1/2 He 111

some sources say 13 victories!
Any information about TIME and PLACE of those victories?

[Peglar]

17 December 1944 Clyde East shot down Oberfähnrich Mathias Gorges (KIA) 5./JG 2 and his Me 109 in the Near of Giessen. Best you talk to Col. East. I can give you his Telefon Number. Greetings Peglar

[Andy Fletcher]

13Apr45; 15:00; 1 x Bf 109; 5 m S. of Hof; F-6D (44-14101; 5M-Y)

Source: Stars & Bars, Frank Olynyk

[mayfair35]

Adriano Baumgartner,
Greetings. East lives quite close to me and usually attends our Aces, Pilots, and Crew Members booth at the annual Air Show in Camarillo. He is credited with 13 aerial victories and several unclaimed probables during WW2. He flew 300 tactical reconnaissance missions with the 9th AF. In Korea, he flew an additional 125 tactical recon missions in the RF-80 and RF-51. He mentions his surprise at being hit by ground fire far more often in Korea than in WW2.
Is there any additional info you would like? I talk to him fairly often but he is quite busy in the Ronald Reagan library.
Cordially, Art Fiedler

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Art! Good to hear from you...( I still owe you a CD I promised! )
There are so many things I and others would like to ask him...but firstly, maybe the differences between the REC-TACS he undertook in WW2 and Korea. That would be nice, to hear about what he thought about ( a kind of comparison ).
I also would be glad to know more about his claims ( which I am researching, like yours ). Please ask him if he still possess the combat reports?
I read about his background and all he surpassed to become a fighter pilot, and also that he volunteered to stay fighting and flying. A life flying rec-tac!...Tell him also,
Art, that there are a lot interested on what men like you and him did. We do not forget!
Yours, friendly as ever,
Adriano

[Peglar]

Clyde East:

24 March, 1945: 2 ME 109s destroyed.
Place: 2 M NW of Eisenach
Time: 0945

27 March, 1945: 2 JU 87s destroyed,
Place: Hammelburg
Time: 1630

4 April, 1945: 1/2 JU 188 shared destroyed
Place:Witenburg
Time: 0830

4 April, 1945: 1 FW 190 destroyed
Place: 15 M South of Leipzig
Time: 0930

Greetings Peglar

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi PEGLAR,
Many thanks for the aditional information on Clyde East claims! It will help me a lot to try to identify his victims. With your information I can narrow my searches.
Thank you again
Adriano