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Lol Kruska - the pilot for both of those a/c were my father and both instances were airfield flak - the first pretty obviously 20mm from high deflection. The second was at low altitude also while strafing near Munich - a long way from home. Still not sure what the round was but likely 37 or 40 mm. I don't recall mention of any 30mm flak.
He was not looking for an air battle on the second scenario as he also lost hydraulics, left main gear was damaged and tail wheel were gone. This a/c was his fourth and last Belly Landing at Steeple Morden - and yes that airplane was repaired and flew combat again.
What an honor to know someone, especially you dad, who participated in such history. My hat is off to all of you who have gone in harms way to fight for what you believe in, whether it is WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or Iraq. I served my duty during the Vietnam era, but it was on a cargo plane. The biggest threat I faced was flying in a plane with me as pilot.
This will be a hell of an unconstructive posting, but what the hell...
Just watched a few minutes of these History Channel productions...holy cow...its better than Dumbo, Snow White, Bambi and Cinderella put together.
Yeah, exactly what i did expect from the History Channel: USAAF veterans with a huge smile on their faces lecturing the audience on how sportive and blithe, virtually free of danger, their missions over occuppied Europe were.
Luftwaffe pilots...easier to outwit, outmanouver and -of course- shoot down than attempting to take the milk bottle away from the mouth of a baby.
Some highlights: A P-47 got badly hit by a Bf 109, a wing catching fire, but the P-47 (in flames) manages to shoot down the Bf 109 that hit him (yeah sure)...another old USAAF guy (big smile on his face) describing how he saw a "poor" German pilot trapped in his cockpit -while still flying-, and not just that, he recalled the poor German by saying "his hands were trembling" -Luftwaffe boys were such a bunch p*ussies- and of course...the German pilot died.
So German fighters are extremely easy to shot down, while the props of the uberUSAAF just dont go down when badly hit...even in flames they can still shot down enemy planes. Reminds me of those stories of Bodenplatter, of P-51´s "shooting down" German planes while still runinng through the runway with the undercarriage still down!!!
Oh well, know i perhaps know where Rambo had its origins.
Had i watched these programs 6 or 7 years ago, during my early/mid teens, i would have been big time seriously pissed off; now i only laugh.
This will be a hell of an unconstructive posting, but what the hell...
Just watched a few minutes of these History Channel productions...holy cow...its better than Dumbo, Snow White, Bambi and Cinderella put together.
Had i watched these programs 6 or 7 years ago, during my early/mid teens, i would have been big time seriously pissed off; now i only laugh.
Kool Kitty:
The episode i was referring to -of the burning Jug that allegedly shot down the Bf 109 that set it on fire- is about Bodenplatte. Even if the word was not mentioned in the minutes i watched, the narrator mentions "January 1st, 1945, over Belgium", the dogfights occurring over a snow covered landscape. Such date and area should mean Bodenplatte.
And no, i am not grossly exaggerating anything...its pure allied superhighway living.
Aha! Isn´t cute and pretty that when a Luftwaffe vet is finally presented in one of those episodes, the one they decided to bring forward is one that belonged to that thing known as Sonderkommando Elbe? If presented, a Luftwaffe veteran should sound pathetic and almost begging for mercy.
I am sure that theres still a number of Luftwaffe veterans with a mean battle record out there that of course will never be presented in the series.
Bill...you know, you are the coolest guy on earth and i mean it... That was a formidable way to tell me and everybody else that my previous post sucked big time huh?
I am definitely sending you the best damn looking bottle of red wine i can buy over here.8)
season 2 episode 16. Death of the Luftwaffe (3/7/08): The Luftwaffe's last great offensive, called Operation Bodenplatte, occurred on January 1, 1945. Bob Brulle, Sanford K. Moats, Alden Rigby, and Richard Creamer were American pilots of the 352d Fighter Group whose airbase, known as Y-29, was attacked by fighters. After this day, the Luftwaffe was shattered as an effective fighting force.
Not surprising that they are US biased, made in the USA....
It would be interesting if some German or French or Russian made "dogfight" type programs were available as well.
Luftwaffe records indicate JG 11 lost 28 fighters.