Spitfire Ace of Aces

[kaki3152]

There has always been one aspect about "Wing Leader" that I've never been able to understand. In the first editions, there are two separate stories that are deleted from later editions. It's in chapter 14, Normandy.
The first story has to do with one of the enemy leaders, a "well known veteran known by the un-Teutonic name of Matoni." Obviously a reference to Walter Matoni, who was the Staffel leader of 4./JG-26 throughout the Normandy campaign,
The second episode deals with capturing some SS cavalry horses and suffering a mortar attack.
In later editions, Chapter 14 is shortened by the removal of both accounts.

[FalkeEins]

reappears FWIW (ie not much!) in 'Ace of Aces'

" In his log on 16 June 1944 Johnson wrote, 'Matoni and his 190s about'. He later recalled; " Yes, the Matoni thing was interesting. We had noticed this distinctive long-nosed 190 about, leading ordinary 190s and our spies confirmed the pilot to be an ace, Walter Matoni. We often saw him in the air but he could only be brought to battle if the circumstances were entirely favourable to him. His presence therefore became something of a challenge and I formed the habit of calling up Kenway and asking if Matoni was about. Challenging Matoni to a personal duel was, of course, rubbish. The subsequent newspaper reports put me in the firing line, not only for a lot of ribbing by the boys, but also an unexpected written bollocking from Paula (Johnson's wife) who reckoned that I was taking unnecessary risks.."

Doras in Normandy - there's a new myth started right there!. As 'mysticpuma' says (I think) I found 'AofA' a pretty dull book, Sarkar's 'Spitfire Voices' is far more interesting..

[John Beaman]

I found the book OK, but lacking information that I expected that was not in the 1950s edition of Wing Leader. Mainly why he made no claims late in 1944 or 1945 when he was obviously flying missions even in the last days of the war in Spitfire 14s?

I also read that Johnson rejected Priller's claim of 101 victories, but then did his own research and verified the vast majority of them. Is this true? May have been on the board before?