The Big Show-Unabridged--Comments?

[George Hopp]

Well, since it is noted that the book was initially written based on Clostermann's journals, inaccuracies, such as a/c types, can easily crawl in because what he knew, and so what he wrote, was based on the quality of intelligence he had at the time. Remember the RAF shooting down all those He 112s during the Battle of Britain, or spotting 109s over the Far East in 1941? And, as for giving himself the benefit of the doubt in his writings -- gee, tell me someone who doesn't.

I also have enjoyed the book many times, my first one being a Penguin paperbook of 1958, simply a reprint of the 1951 version. More than any other aviation works I have read, Clostermann makes me feel like I am in the cockpit scared and sweating right along with him.

[Christer Bergström]

Since I have written the biographies on Hermann Graf (published in August 2003) and on Walter Schuck (due to be published in 2006), it pleases me to find that in this unabriged edition of "The Big Show" (published in 2004, the foreword dated September 2003):

a) "Major Graff" is finally "removed", and

b) Pierre Clostermann's actual meeting with Walter Schuck is mentioned

After all these years with the "Major Graff" story, leading to the almost classical question "was Hermann Graf shot down by Martell" (a subject which is closely examined in the Graf & Grislawski books), Clostermann now finally - on page 50 in the 2004 unabrdiged edition, concludes:

"Later we learned that it was not Graff. . ."

And about Schuck. . . Well, he isn't mantioned by name, but at least due to Schuck himself, it was Walter Schuck. I'll tell you on which page later. . .

[Brian]

Hi guys
I hope I am not putting the cat amongst the pigeons but I don't think that Clostermann was awarded the DSO, which he was photographed wearing! And he certainly didn't get the 33 kills painted on the side of his Tempest! However, I am first to admit that I haven't read the new version of the book.

[Graham Boak]

I think people should be very careful about what is said on this subject. In recent years Clostermann has won a court case in France over noted aircraft historian Christian Ehrengard, whose comments were significantly less inflammatory than those above!

It would be a shame to find similar action taken against this board.

[Brian]

Thanks Graham - warning heeded! I know Chris E and will endeavour to find out what he stated. Incidentally, information regarding his claims is extracted from 'Aces High'.

Cheers
Brian

[Calimero jr.]

The last version of "The Big Show" corrects many errors (about JG or german pilots...) that were present in the first editions. As said above, Clostermann couldn't use the decades of WWII research we have now to write his book.
As for someone mentioning dogfights with "hordes of Ta-152 in July 1944", I'm sorry but I don't find that in the book (I have the original and the "2000" editions). Clostermann describes many fights against Fw-190 D-9 while flying Tempests in 1945 but not against Ta. In the original edition it is possible that he talks about "long-nosed" FW over Normandy, which of course is a mistake as the type wasn't operational yet.

For sure it's still one of the best and most vivd aerial WWII accounts I've read.

[nabbe158]

Well!

The posts you have made was very interesting.