Another Clostermann Question-April 21 or 22

[kaki3152]

In re-reading The Big Show for the 50th time, I came accross the combat of April 22,1945. In the book, F/Lt Clostermann takes after the killer of F/Lt McKenzie (who was shot down in Tempest V EJ610) and is forced to make a belly landing after being hit by the Fw-190D-9.

In Fighter Command Losses 1944-1945, Clostermann is reported to have made a belly landing at base on April 20th after "combat with a FW-190".
F/L McKenzie loss is not until April 21,1945 in FCL Vol3.

Which is the correct date?

[BruceMk11]

Clostermann claimed two Fw 190s on the 20/4/45, not the 22/4/45. There were no further air combat claims for 3 Sqn until 30/4/45.

F/L Bruce Calder McKenzie (A401994) was lost on the 21/4/45. He was attacking transport on the Schwarenbek-Lauenburg road and was hit by flak. The crash was witnessed by the German farmer on whose property (Rulan Farm) the a/c landed.

McKenzie was on his second tour, and was serving as 'B' Flight cdr.

Cheers,

Bruce

[CJE]

The Big Show must be regarded as a brillant novel but not as an historical work.

[FalkeEins]

as Bruce and Chris said ...

FWIW Clostermann interview clip from 1975 talking about these events (which he states took place on 21 April) and a partial English transcript..

http://falkeeins.blogspot.co.uk/2011...french-tv.html

According to 122 Tempest Wing's war diary for the 20th, " a good day, the 'mad Frenchie' got another two Fw 190s.."

[kaki3152]

Yes, there are many cases in the book where the facts are "modified". i.e. the combat with the recon Bf-109G over Scapa Flow. Clostermann did not take part in this combat but writes this episode as if he did.
I don't care. The book is still one of my favorites, along with Wing Leader, I Flew For The Fuhrer, and all the other paperbacks I read in the 1960s.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

We need to be fair to our old heroes...

Ms Clostermann (and all those who wrote their memoires during the 1950's and 60's) never could imagine that their memories would one day be scrutinized word by word by armchair warriors aka historians like us. Had they known, they would probably have formulated themselves rather differently or perhaps even kept a total silence.

Back then, a story was a good story, regardless if you remembered the correct day or not, if your memory matched your combat report or if in fact you were there in the first place at all. Once your statements had been accepted as Gospel, many found it hard to change them since they had become sort of Myths and the older you got the harder it was to correct your memories, they have become a part of you!

I know that Pierre never came close to being the 33 victory ace that the created Myth (and politics!) turned him into. Personally I don't care, since I owe Pierre Clostermann a debt no one else can compare with. He got me into this "racket" for good and for bad, and so far I have never regretted a single moment, since I have met so many interesting individuals on the 'net', not least on these pages, that it has been worth it many, many times over.

So, here's to You Pierre!

Cheers
Stig

[kaki3152]

Hear, hear. Sometimes, when I look at all the books, magazines and everything I've collected , I think I've created a monster!

But then I start reading a book and all my concerns go out the window