I think Marseille and his kill totals are misleading.. Yea the guy was skilled. But against what kinda aircraft??? P-40's?????
I wouldn't doubt the P-40 so much. I vite for Clive Caldwell, altough he's not on the list. Here's some reasons why:
-Downing 5 bombers in one engagement:
"I received radio warning that a large enemy formation was approaching from the north-west. No 250 Squadron went into line astern behind me and as No 112 Squadron engaged the escorting fighters we attacked the JU's from the rear quarter. At 300 yards I opened fire with all my guns at the leader of one of the rear sections of three, allowing little deflection and hit No.2 and No.3, one of which burst into flames immediately, the other going down smoking...I then attacked the leader of the rear section from below and behind, opening fire with all guns at very close range. The enemy aircraft turned over and dived steeply...I opened on another again at close range, then enemy caught fire and crashed in flames.
-Caldwell shot down Marseille:
On 21 February 1942, one of the Luftwaffe's most successful desert fighter pilots Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt was shot down in flames by Clive Caldwell.
A quote from Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt (59 Victories).
"One of the leading Kittyhawks (Caldwell) had suddenly pulled up into a vertical position, hung briefly on it's propeller and fired just one burst".
A quote from Hans-Joachim Marseille (158 Victories) who witnessed Caldwell's adventurous attack.
"It was a fabulous shot".
A quote from Bobby Gibbes (10 Victories)
"I saw what you were trying to do but never thought you could do it".
-Surviving 109's
While flying top cover for supply planes inbound for Tobruk, two Bf-109's led by the 114-victory ace Werner Schroer ambushed him. The German planes punched 108 machine gun bullets and five 20mm shells into the hapless fighter, damaging its instrument panel, controls, tail, wings, and wounding Caldwell in the back, shoulder and leg.
Instead of crashing to the ground, the Tomahawk managed to stay airborne. And instead of attempting to escape, the Sydney-born Caldwell turned into his attackers and returned fire. He shot down Schroer's wingman, unnerving Schroer to the point that he ran for home. The Australian ace made it home.
...All with 'just a P40'