On a related note I’m currently about 80% of the way through reading ‘The Big Show’ by Pierre Clostermann (Frenchman who flew for RAF during WW2). I’ve read loads and loads of aviation history books over the years but this is quite possibly the most engrossing read of them all.
His detailed accounts of flying from late 1942 – 1945 on Spitfire V / VII (Strato-Spits) / IX, Typhoon IIB, Tempest V and comparisons against Focke Wulf 190A8 / 190D9 / TA152 / Messerschmitt BF109G / K / Me262 is really fascinating and honest. It’s also made me completely reassess the many read views in the past about the waning of the Luftwaffe in France and Germany from Summer 1944 – Spring 1945. Judging by the extremely high number of RAF losses versus the crack 15-20% 109 / 190 pilots I’d say the air war over France, Belgium, Holland and Germany during that period was at least equally as important and deadly as the Battle of Britain.
Also pretty cringeworthy reading his reported hatred for US P47’s and P51’s on the basis of their trigger happy nature and the fact they had form for shooting down a decent number of RAF Spitfires, Typhoons and a selection of Tempests! :-O
