Clostermann and the Victory FlyPast 12 May 1945.

[keith A]

On 12 May 1945 during a victory fly-past to mark the war's conclusion, another Tempest collided with his, and as a result an air pile-up occurred with four close formation low-flying aeroplanes of his flight involved, with three pilots being killed. Clostermann bailed out, his parachute opening just a few metres above the ground.

Did this happen? I haven't been able to locate the event or details of the three pilots killed. A flypast just four days after the EOW seems remarkable well organised...except for the deaths of three pilots.

K

[keith A]

p.s. let's not answer that it's Clostermann's old malarkey. I am a veteran of his stories, especially those proved to be false. But his record as a pilot is worth admiration.

[dp_burke]

The 3 Squadron ORB records this for the 12th May 1945

Wing practice formation over BREMERHAVEN. Our squadron was lead by S/LDR R B COLE consisted of twelve aircraft and the trip lasted 1hr 40 mins. We regret the loss of F/LT W R ROBERTSON and SGT W CAMPBELL who collided in mid air over BREMERHAVEN.

[dp_burke]

And if you search in the RAF Commands database you find the pilots and their aircraft:
https://www.rafcommands.com/database...php?qnum=38734

https://www.rafcommands.com/database....php?qnum=6973


And there was a thread on it in RAFCommands forum
https://forum.rafcommands.com/forum/...5-45#post35192