Who Shot down Udet when he had the "Tail Message"?

Barry Hickson · 29 April 2010, 05:24 PM

G'day All!
I tried to find something in the Forum Search on this but there were just too many threads so apologies if this was covered recently.

Who was credited with "shooting down" Udet whilst he was flying the Fokker D V11 with the famous tail message.

From memory he survived by taking to his 'chute but I have no other info.

Thanks in advance

Raineranton · 30 April 2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Hickson

Who was credited with "shooting down" Udet whilst he was flying the Fokker D V11 with the famous tail message.

Hi Barry,

it was on 29 June 1918. Udet attacked a French Bréguet-two-seater and was shot down by the observer. The unit of this Bréguet and the names of the French airmen are unfortunatelly unknown.

Regards

Rainer

rammjaeger · 1 May 2010, 01:28 AM

In FASWC are two victories of a Breguet unit (Br 44) mentioned for this day. However, the data are lacking any location or type of enemy airplane.
The names Sgt Thuillier (for one victory) and "Lt Fine & "(?? - for the second) are mentioned.

alex_revell · 1 May 2010, 02:11 AM

Was Udet's being shot down reflected in the German losses for the day? Just asking.

Ginger. · 1 May 2010, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Was Udet's being shot down reflected in the German losses for the day? Just asking.

A quite brilliant dive, squirt and zoom from our Veteran Flight Commander!

Barry Hickson · 1 May 2010, 03:40 AM

Thanks for the reply folks.
Oh. Alex & Ginger your MC awards are in the mail. NOT for your Victory but for distingrished Long Service & Gallantry in Action!

Raineranton · 1 May 2010, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Was Udet's being shot down reflected in the German losses for the day? Just asking.

Hi Alex,

I can only quote from Jagd in Flanderns Himmel - Aus den sechzehn Kampfmonaten des Jagdgeschwaders Richthofen by the Geschwader-Adjutanten Karl Bodenschatz:

29.06.1918 -
Lt. Udet (Jasta 4, Führer) erhielt Flakvolltreffer in sein Flugzeug, das schwer beschädigt abstürzte. Duch Absprung mittels Fallschirm aus 500 m Höhe landete Lt. Udet wohlbehalten hinter der eigenen Infanterielinie.....

Lt. Udet (Jasta 4, leader) became a direct hit in his aircraft through AA, which fell severely damanged. By jump out of his plane with parachute, in a height of 500 m, he landed safely behind the own infantery line.....

Regards

Rainer

alex_revell · 1 May 2010, 04:06 AM

Hello Rainer,
Exactly. If it were not for JIFH we would not have known that Udet survived.
Here, well illustrated, is the problem of attributing victories. Pilot safe, but an aeroplane completely destroyed. Unless we have details of German aircraft destroyed or damaged, no hard and fast conclusions regarding victories are possible.

Regards

Barry Hickson · 1 May 2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raineranton

Hi Alex,

I can only quote from Jagd in Flanderns Himmel - Aus den sechzehn Kampfmonaten des Jagdgeschwaders Richthofen by the Geschwader-Adjutanten Karl Bodenschatz:

29.06.1918 -
Lt. Udet (Jasta 4, Führer) erhielt Flakvolltreffer in sein Flugzeug, das schwer beschädigt abstürzte. Duch Absprung mittels Fallschirm aus 500 m Höhe landete Lt. Udet wohlbehalten hinter der eigenen Infanterielinie.....

Lt. Udet (Jasta 4, leader) became a direct hit in his aircraft through AA, which fell severely damanged. By jump out of his plane with parachute, in a height of 500 m, he landed safely behind the own infantery line.....

Regards

Rainer

G'day Rainer!
interestingly Iam currently reading Udet's book "Ace of the Iron Cross" which of course is a translation (printed in 1970--well my copy anyway) & in it Udet states it was a 2 seater that actually shot him down due to damage to his plane as stated in the book "The elevator is shot up, its binding at the stick is severed and the cable flaps in the propwash."
So the German damage records do not appear to be accurate in the report of AA being the cause?

I must admit Iam really impressed by Udets writing, very lyrical & quite moving. Iam up to where he is in Africa. Wish he had written more fully about his War experiences however. Must have been a very interesting fellow & he certainly lived an exciting life. Sad that it ended in the circumstances it did.