strange questions

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The first assession about the victory point is AFAIK false, but it is true that in 1944-1945 German fighters were often sent chasing artilley spotting AC rather than Allied fighter-bombers.

The second story may be found at many places on the Internet, but according to this webpage (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=1282) is coming from the book "The last battle" by Cornelius Ryan. While I like Ryan's book, AFAIK they are more based on personal stories than on official documents. That may explain why in all Internet sites I have found, the precise unit of the involved L-4 is not given, and neither is the date of the event. I will say that if it happens, there should be an official report somewhere.
But by the way, even if it happens, the last dogfight of WWII in Europe very probably happens on the Eastern Front. Soviet pilots reported meeting in the air German aircraft as far as 10 or 11 May.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

The first assession about the victory point is AFAIK false, but it is true that in 1944-1945 German fighters were often sent chasing artilley spotting AC rather than Allied fighter-bombers.

Some examples here.

[John Beaman]

Thanks guys. Most interesting.

[Leendert]

Correct name is Merritt Duane Francies, attached to HQ Battery, 71st Artillery Battalion, 5th Armored Division.

A detailed story here of the happenings on 11 April 1945: http://www.5ad.org/units/Duane%20Francies.htm

Regards and Merry Christmas,

Leendert

[Dénes Bernád]

Quote: "When flights resumed, the 95th Armored Field Artillery Battalion lost one of of it’s liaison Cubs. Both the pilot and observer were killed when their Piper was shot down in flames by 10 Messerschmitt Me-109s."

It always wondered me how can more than max. two fighters shot down a single small target. On the top of this, ten Bf 109s - at that stage of the war - focusing on a single target sounds more than ridiculous to me.

Other question: what was the effective firing range of a .45 Colt? Of course, I did see the quote: "The two planes were so close I could see the Germans'eyeballs, as big as eggs, as we peppered them." However, this scene reminds me a mediocre Western movie, where the good guy (with white hat, for simplicity) knocks off a multitude of stupid bad guys (with black hat) with every single shot of his pistol...

Otherwise interesting story.