Tempest-Dora flyoff

[Kutscha]

In Hermann's Dora book it is mentioned that a Tempest and a Dora-9 or 13 had a mock dogfight on June 25 1945. The fight took place near Husum.

The Tempest was flown by a Canadian pilot.

Who was the Tempest pilot and what squadron did the a/c come from?

I have Tempests on June 25 based at:

3 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
33 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger.
56 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
80 Sqd - B160, Kastrup Den. (Copenhagen)
222 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger. (from 25 June, before that in GB)
274 Sqd - B155, Dedelstorf Ger.
486 Sqd - B172, Husum Ger.

[SMF144]

Kutscha,

I knew a Canadian pilot who witnessed the whole event and when I get home this evening, I'll check to see what Squadron he was with at the time. It might provide a clue as to the Squadron and pilot.

Stephen

[Kutscha]

Thanks Stephen. Any success?

[SMF144]

Kutscha,

Yes and No. The pilot I had in mind was Bernard C. 'Buck' Kirlin, but he flew Tempests after the war on a Fighter Leaders Course in England. During the war he was with No.438 Squadron R.C.A.F. and there was a series of pictures taken of him and another "Wildcat" pilot, around these Doras and one of them shows the two of them standing in front of the D-13. It's been published before but I can't recall where. Maybe in Eagle Editions little primer "Yellow 10"? Some of these photos appear in several well known publications: Broken Eagles I and Don Caldwells' JG-26 War Diary Vol.II. By the time I got to know 'Buck' he only had one photo left from this series and and this one was published in JG-26 Vol.II. Who knows what happened to the others but I know he didn't loose them or miss-place them.

So, maybe knowing where 438 Squadron was based during the period in question might provide a clue? Who knows, maybe they were sharing an airfield with a Tempest Squadron - I don't know but it might be worth looking into?

Have you checked the ORB's of the Tempest Squadrons in question to see if there was any mention of this event?

Stephen

[Graham Boak]

I have a suspicion this was New Zealander Evan Mackie, but can't confirm from resources to hand.

[Kutscha]

Thanks Stephen.

I have 438 as a Typhoon squadron based at B166, Flensburg. I have listed the Tempest squadron bases. 486 is a NZ Tempest squadron. Is it possible that it was a NZ pilot that flew the mock combat? (edit: I see Graham posted while I was writting my post)

I wouldn't know where to find the ORBs.

[SMF144]

I'm sorry I never interviewed Buck about this incident. I'm kicking myself now for not recording the story on tape but I can still remember Buck telling me that he was more than surprised that the German pilot, when he first approached the Allied C.O. about the fly-off, he called him "Chiefy".

I'm sure there's more to the story...

Stephen