von Tutschek

[DEM]

I have come across an old clipping about 60 Squadron fights in July 1917 that includes a number of references to von Tutschek, including a victory he scored over Parkes and another against a 40 Squadron pilot named Rook.

Does anyone know where this clipping originated from? Was it possibly from the history of 60 that appeared in Cross and Cockade many years ago?

The von Tutschek/Parkes entry says:

Contrary to Grid's briefing, 2nd Lt. GAH Parkes, becoming impatient, broke off to attack the rear Albatros in the vee formation. This Albatros propmptly flew under his comrades with the Nieuport following, thus presenting a target for the remainder of the formation. The patrol leader was von Tutschek and he got in a telling burst of fire which wounded Parkes in the left arm and hit the aircraft's fuel tank, control cables and instruments. Parkes attempted to reach his lines against a strong headwind, but von Tutschek headed him off with another burst and Parkes carried out a forced landing at a disused aerodrome a mile west of Douai. He attempted to set fire to his Nieuport, but von Tutschek flew round the aircraft, firing his guns to prevent this and Parkes was eventually taken PoW.

If this was in the C & C history of 60 squadron story, I'd be interested in knowing which issue, so I could order a copy, assuming any are left.

[austin08]

Hi DEM,
The same paragraph appears in Joe Warnes' articles on 60 squadron (this is in part 2) - this particular issue of Cross & Cockade (Great Britain) being Vol.11 No.2 1980

[TomVrille]

Originally Posted by DEM

I have come across an old clipping about 60 Squadron fights in July 1917 that includes a number of references to von Tutschek, including a victory he scored over Parkes and another against a 40 Squadron pilot named Rook. ... Does anyone know where this clipping originated from? Was it possibly from the history of 60 that appeared in Cross and Cockade many years ago? .... Contrary to Grid's briefing, von Tutschek flew round the aircraft, firing his guns...

To begin to sort out some relevant points, Under the Guns of the Kaiser's Aces lists von Tutschek's 16th and 17th victories as 2Lt Parkes (15 July 1917), and 2Lt Rook (21 July 1917). The original references to these engagements appear to have been drawn from combat reports by 'Grid' Caldwell. Caldwell's report on 2Lt parkes apparently did not mention the fact that von Tutschek strafed the downed flyer to prevent him from burning his aircraft, which was captured largely intact. In Cross and Cockade (US), Vol.17 (1976), No.3, there is a reference to another Caldwell report regarding the downing of 2Lt Rook which indicates that Rook crashed from low altitude. A separate account by 'McScotch' in Fighter Pilot suggests that Rook fell in flames from a somewhat higher altitude.

In any case, the clipping to which you refer was apparently gleaned from combat reports by Grid Caldwell over a period of at least a week. I have no idea as to the identity of the compiler of these reports.

[DEM]

Thanks guys