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Info Eduard - August 2011
HISTORY
This powerful plane became his most famous
mount. He was amazed by the Tempest, espe-
cially its speed.
Clostermann was assigned to No. 274 Sqn
on 2 March 1945 and scored his rst Tempest
victory three days, when he downed a Bf 109
in the Hengelo area. Another change came on
17 March, when he joined 56 Sqn. Closterman-
n’s Tempest was hit by German ak during a
combat operation on 24 March, resulting in a
dramatic ery crash landing and a leg injury.
But four days later he was able to shoot down
a Fi 153 Storch taking off from an aireld. A
much tougher opponent came on April 2, 1945,
a Fw 190 D, but Clostermann once again pre-
vailed.
Clostermann’s next assignment was with 3 Sqn
RAF. He joined the Squadron on 8 April 1945
and became A Flight leader. This was the rst
occasion that he ew the Tempest with marking
JF E, S/N NV994. On 20 April 1945 he claimed
two Fw 190s, but was forced to crash-land upon
return from the mission. Clostermann was back to
ying duties on 3 May 1945 with a new Tempest
marked by JF E, S/N SN222. This was the fa-
mous “Le Grand Charles”.
On this same day he took part on attack to
Großenbrode, which ended very successfully for
Clostermann. He claimed a Fw 190 D, Bv 138,
Ju 252 and two Bf 109 shared with another pi-
lot, and two Do 24s.
A guardian angel stayed with Clostermann
even after the end of hostilities. During a military
y-past at Bremerhaven on 12 May 1945, four
planes of his ight collided mid-air. Clostermann
was the only pilot unhurt, although he had to bail
out of his aircraft.
SN222 also survived the war. Clostermann ew
his famous aircraft again during mid June in Co-
penhagen. Later he also ew his previous JF E,
S/N NV724.
Pierre Clostermann was demobbed from the
military on 27 August 1945, but he enlisted
to return to ying duties in the 1950s during
the Algerian conict. This time, however, instead
of powerful ghters he ew the MH.1521 Brou-
ssard liaison aircraft.
During peacetime Clostermann worked in top
management positions in the aviation industry,
and he also had political career. He nally ente-
red aviator’s heaven on 22 March 2006.
Plastic modelers and historians often discuss
the number of Clostermann’s kills and the exact
appearance of his planes. Both subjects are con-
troversial.
Kill tallies varied partly due to the different
systems of assessing kill conrmations by British
and French authorities, specically by different
counting of air and ground victories. The French
assigned 33 victories to Clostermann (24 conr-
med and 9 as probable), while RAF documents
state 24 conrmed victories.
Date Enemy Area Assignment
5 March 1945 1 x Bf 109 Nordhorn No. 274 Sqdn
14 March 1945 1 x Bf 109 Hannover No. 274 Sqdn
28 March 1945 1/2 Ju 88 Rheine Hopsten AB No. 274 Sqdn
2 April 1945 1 x Fw 190 D-9 Ahlhorn AB No. 56 Sqdn
5 April 1945 1 x Ju88 Wunstorf No. 56 Sqdn
5 April 1945 1/2 Bf 109 Dümmer Lake No. 56 Sqdn
5 April 1945 1/2 Bf 109 Dümmer Lake No. 56 Sqdn
20 April 1945 2 x Fw 190 D-9 Dümmer Lake No. 3 Sqdn
20 April 1945 1/2 Ju 290 Skagerrak No. 3 Sqdn
3 May 1945 1 x Fw 190D-9 Kiel No. 3 Sqdn
3 May 1945 1 x Ju 252 Großenbrode No. 3 Sqdn
3 May 1945 2 x Do 24 Channel at Fehmarn isle No. 3 Sqdn
3 May 1945 1/2 Bf 109 Großenbrode No. 3 Sqdn
3 May 1945 1/2 Bf 109 Großenbrode No. 3 Sqdn
Total 13
Here is a listing of Clostermann’s conrmed victories
while ying the Tempest, based on British documents:
Another of Clostermann’s four Tempests coded JF-E, carrying more striking markings. The front was adorned by the Lorraine Cross, the symbol of the Free French, and the n tip
carried the marking of No.3 Squadron. Notice the expanded kill tally underneath the cockpit. The total count of Clostermann’s kills have been a topic of debate. The post-war
French conrmed numbers are inconsistent with those of wartime documentation in British archives, thanks mainly due to different practices between the two air forces. It is interes-
ting to note that Pierre’s cousin, Bruno Clostermann, served on the other side of the front, with JG 300. He, however, did not survive the war, with his death on January 14th, 1945.
eduard
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Info Eduard - August 2011
Zdenek Nozicka