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Info Eduard - August 2011
In a past era when books, magazines and the
daily press were the main sources of informati-
on, it was not uncommon for the authors of these
media to be made famous by their work. One of
the most successful writers of wartime memoirs
was French WWII pilot Pierre Clostermann.
His autobiographical book The Big Show (Le
Grand Cirque) became very popular and much
loved by many boys and men. Thanks to this
book he became more famous than many of his
more successful colleagues, assuming that we
take the number of victories to be the ultimate
mark of success for a ghter pilot.
Clostermann’s name will be forever associated
with the Hawker Tempest, although he actually
only ew the type for a relatively short period.
The Tempest was in Eduard’s sights many years
ago with its 1/48 scale kit, released around
1997. The same sprues are now making an en-
core appearance as a Limited Edition release.
This new release will include a good selection of
new marking options. Our intention was to select
the most interesting planes, so the Tempests own
by Pierre Clostermann could not be ignored.
Pierre Clostermann was born in Curitiba, Brazil
on 28 February 1921, into the family of a French
diplomat. He moved to France in his youth, where
he lived with his uncle, Robert Aubry, a WWI air-
man. During that time he discovered the memoirs
of famous WWI heroes Guynemer, Navarre and
Fonck.
After two years in France he returned to Bra-
zil, where we obtained his pilot license under in-
struction from Karl Benitz, who was later killed
in WWII as a Luftwaffe pilot.
After the French defeat in 1940, Clostermann
resolved to join the Free French forces and con-
tinue the struggle. He traveled to Great Britain
and then to the USA, where he studied at the
California Technical Institute. He completed his
global round trip to reach England and on 18
March 1942 he joined the Free French.
After RAF pilot training and ofcer school he
went to No. 61 OTU, where he sat in a Spit-
re cockpit for the rst time. In January 1943
Clostermann joined No. 341 “Alsace” Squadron
RAF. His rst combat operation was on 24 March
1943 during a photo reconnaissance mission y-
ing a Spitre.
His rst success came ve days later, when he
damaged one Bf 109. His debut full kills came
on 27 July, when he shot down two Fw 190s.
One of Clostermann’s most controversial mo-
ments came in September 1943 when, due to
repeated ying indiscipline and possible contri-
bution to the accidental death of his C.O., he was
forced to leave the French unit and join British
No. 602 Sqn.
New successes followed, and on 6 July 1944
he was awarded by British DFC for his seven con-
rmed victories ying Spitres. At that time he
completed his combat tour and was transferred
to the HQ of Free French Air Force (the Press
branch). During this new assignment he was pro-
moted to ofcer’s rank. His long months work at
HQ was interrupted only by a course at the Cen-
tral Gunnery School in Catfoss.
By the end of 1944 Clostermann nally tired
of work at the Press ofce in London and asked
to return to a combat unit. Although the request
was initially denied, he was nally successful.
He commenced Typhoon training in December
1944 and he sat in the Hawker Tempest coc-
kpit for the very rst time on 10 February 1945.
HISTORY
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Info Eduard - August 2011