Grislawski or Ihlefeld

[neil c]

Thanks Franek and Andy.

I respect and appreciate your views and feedback. I know that errors in identification occurred on all sides. Maybe I'm trying to give more credit than I should to Ihlefeld and Grislawski due to their experience. Who knows. In the heat of battle, mistakes happen.

I'm just trying to cover all bases available to find out which one of them shot my father down for a book I'm writing. It's not a big deal but if the info is out there' I'd like to find it.

For anyone interested, the story is due to be published in FlyPast. Not certain but I believe the December issue.

Thanks guys!

Neil

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by neil c

Maybe I'm trying to give more credit than I should to Ihlefeld and Grislawski due to their experience. Who knows. In the heat of battle, mistakes happen.

Neil
A little bit time ago, on the old forum, we have had a lengthy discussion trying to identify an aircraft visible on a guncam still. Despite armchair conditions, good knowledge of silhouettes, and plenty of time available, it was never 100% identified, guesses being Fw 190, Ju 87, Me 109 or Ta 152.
Also, quite recently I have seen some guncam films, and sometimes I needed a replay to assure as to the type visible.
In the heat of combat you would not have that chance.

[neil c]

Franek,

Good points and duly noted.

Neil

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

Although I agree with everyone that it can be highly difficult to ID aeroplanes in combat depending on experience, light conditions, number of aeroplanes engaged, G-forces, stress, look-a-like types etc etc, it is no point in refering to gun camera films with regard to possible pilot identification problems. The gun-camera was not supposed to be a cinemascope show and it was almost impossible to ensure it was shake free. Also even when filming under G-forces even if not shooting at the same time, an aeroplane is always shaking to some degree. The human eye is far better to adapt to these small rapid movements than the camera...

Cheers
Stig

[neil c]

Thanks Stig.

Those are also good points and I highly agree that pilots, and especially experienced fighter pilots, were well educated in aircraft recognition. Both Grislawski and Ihlefeld each had more than 100 kills by this time.

My father identified them as Me 109s a couple of minutes before he was spotted. And that was at a greater distance than when they were right on his tail and should have been able to easily identify his a/c type. Also, the air battle lasted about ten minutes. More time for a correct type I.D.

If the translation reveals no new information then I would suppose that both Grislawski and Ihlefeld had a shot at him and made the claim or it might just be a simple case of over reporting by one of them.

I am under the impression that both Grislawski and Ihlefeld were operating out of the same airfield, La Fere, that day. If that's true it is highly probable they were both on that mission.

Can anyone confirm that?

Neil