Interview de Pierre H. Clostermann devant son Hawker Tempest Court extrait de "Histoire de l'Aviation" - Episode N°6 "Le ciel en Feu" de Daniel Costelle
He says that some German pilots were fighting from the Spanish war. Those pilots were (for him) the best. He has been shoot down twice and twice due to this kind of very experimented pilot. Then he tells the way he has been shot the second time. I confirm this guy was awesome...
Hi guys, I have some informations about the German pilot who shot him down in april 1945, after some investigations from historians and German archives and squadron diaries plus survivor's log books, it's been discovered that Franck DORTENMAN, I think from JG3, shot CLOSTERMAN down. That kind of experienced pilots were just a plea, "to be avoided like pest", I quote Pierre CLOSTERMAN'S interview. Funny enough, DORTENMAN survived the war with 32 confirmed kills plus some "herauss schuss en" namely damaged aircrafts compelled to leave formation... CLOSTERMAN had about the same score. I don't think they ever met after the shooting was over.
I read his book 'The Big Show' as a young boy of seven or eight when I was in bed with measles. I was captivated and blown away by the excitement, loss, humour an dvivid descriptions of air combat. A truly great man.
I was 12 when I first read and was enthralled by The Big Show on first publication and that copy remains a treasured possession. No superior fighter pilot memoir has been written.
Extraordinaire condensé, quatre minutes pour narrer l'experience de ceux qui firent jetés dans ce tourbillon inimaginable. Je lis, j'écoute et pourtant jamais je ne vivrai quelque chose de comparable.
I borrowed the book from the library in 1976. I started reading and I couldn't stop. After reading it, I re-read it countless times. In my opinion, the book is one of the most captivating books.
Je l'ai rencontré en vrai, à un meeting à Abscheim, je devais avoir 12 ou 13 ans. Jacques Remlinger y était aussi. Je venais de découvrir "Le Grand Cirque". Il m'a signé un autographe sur l'exemplaire de mon grand-père, édition originale. Moment inoubliable.
A brave pilot and exponent of the Hawker Tempest. Author of one of the finest books about ariel combat ever written "The Big Show" a very fine read indeed. Not much glamour - just the truth.
His book: The Big Show' is a great read. I seem to recall he flew -- and survived -- flying in the Typhoon? (Actually it was the Tempest which he is leaning against). A brilliant, courageous pilot.
I was 12 years old when I read the book The Big Show and was facinated. I read it over and over till it went missing some yearss later. Took me some 20 years to find it again, and also all the other ww2 books from him. Great man!!!
Thank goodness he was one our side. Great man. I just wish I listened in my French classes. If only they had shown clips like this then boy would I have concentrated harder!!
I read "Le Grand Cirque" when I was young, trying to get my hands on any books about flying I could put my hands on. I was very impressed by his modesty, here is a French Hero, highly decorated fighter ace who is actually complimenting the opponents that he faced (i.e. the Germans). He stated that in his younger days as a fighter pilot, you become "cocky" or "proud as a peacock" as the routine of war settles in (that is true, I have been there), you become so tired, that you get to a point where you do not care anymore. He relates to an encounter 8 RAF fighters (he was flying a Tempest) against one German fighter ace who systematically shot them 1, 2, 3, the third one being Closterman. He saw the German pilot upside down, 10 meters from his canopy (~32') who "barrel-rolled his airplane to his other side fearing that he would overshoot Closterman (who had just lost his engine). Closterman ditched his A/C in a marsh, gear up, in the mud, as he was exiting his A/C, the German came back at him. Closterman thought that he was going to die, but the German passed by without shooting. What a great man to have such respect for his opponents (both sides), thanks for the video, Ciao, L
I tead him too, same as you. But he had a bug up his butt about Americans. But the German dude did not shoot him (on the ground) because that would have been a war crime. And not very cricket.
I read his book decades ago. When I saw a new reedited edition on Amazon that had added material I ordered it. I was surprised that much of that added material was anti-American rants that was sometimes unfair and sometimes bordered on ridiculous.
@@PappyGunn Hi Pappy Gunn, really? I do not think that "war crimes" or "shooting someone on the ground" is much of a priority and/or concern in the heat of the action, in ground support, in strafing, especially when you have seen many of your brothers-in-arms torn to pieces in combat and... I have been there. I read the first edition (sixties, French class), I do not recall badmouthing Americans. Ciao, L (Veteran)
I read his autobiography many years ago. He loved what he called his beloved RAF and was a great defender of freedom. He was quite disillusioned by France on his return after the war.
He was not only a wonderful writer, he was also an aeronautical engineer (San Diego California's Ryan School of Aeronautics). After the war he became an aircraft manufacturer. He built Cessna airplanes in France and other G.A aircrafts for the european market. He also served for many years as an elected member of the French Parliament. He was a multi talented man. RIP.
Great short interview. I wanted to add an English translation in the subtitles, but the video is locked and I cannot do it. So here is, below, a transcript of this clip:
[narrator]: Pierre Clostermann, French fighter ace, has fought these German pilots. He knows the answer. [PC]: You could say ”yes, but it was on the eastern front, the Russians had less sophisticated airplanes..”- No, because there are those who had victories on our front. And here is the reason: I know some, who survived, that started fighting in 1936 in Spain, then fought in the Polish campaign, the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, because the Luftwaffe was extremely cruel and got its men to fly until death.
We used to fly 80, 100, 110 missions, then were sent to rest. They never unharnessed. When they survived, you would find people with a fabulous level of experience. You did not have a choice. If you would encounter one of the German pilots with the greatest experience, you had absolutely no chance to get away with it. The main thing was to guess that one of them was around. Like you would feel a wildcat being around. You lock yourself in. In the same way if you could guess that in a dogfight there was one of them around, you had to avoid him like the plague. Twice I did not avoid him, I could not.
I got shot down twice. Once on the 12th of May 1943, and on the 21st of April, 1945. In 1945 I was on top form and being reckless, because you get reckless when you are tired, kind of doped as war can get you feel in this kind of operation, so - I was not very modest. Within 35 seconds, I was brought back to absolute modesty: the one of total fear, when you think ”my God this is it, it is the end”, by a German pilot. We were eight planes, he was on his own and he made a show. One two three, and it was done.
[narrator]: Who was it? [PC]: I never found out. He could have killed me. The moment my engine stopped, I saw a shell slide and explode just above the crosses [translator's note: he points towrds the victory crosses on the plane]. But on this day I was not flying my own plane. Everytime I had, for some technical reason, to fly a plane other than my own, I encountered an issue. It is very curious. I saw this plane explode, I felt the shock when the engine stopped, and I thought, this is it. I am done.
Too low to bail out, I turned and he passed nearby, I saw very well the pilot, as he passed inverted above me, very slowly, he was about ten meters above me, and he was looking at me. I could see he was desperately trying to brake down . Maybe he got scared that I, in a last reflex, would shoot at him, as his own engine was running and he was faster than I, and he slid around. I could land the plane near the Lac du Maire, meaning in a swamp, landed with wheels up of course, the plane was covered in mud, I left the plane like a madman, I unharnessed very quickly, slid on the wing, fell out, and I saw him approach and I thought ”He is going to shoot at me. This is not possible, he cannot do it?” I would never had done it myself. And he did not do it.
Quel grand monsieur ! Mon ancien professeur d'histoire, Mr luxardo a eu la chance de le rencontrer avant qu'il décède.. Un grand monsieur qui nous a quitté
Great pilot, a gentleman born and raised in Brazil, where he first learned to fly and even designed and developed an airplane... Had a strong friendship with Brazilian pilots and spoke a perfect Brazilian portuguese.
Remember a photo in his book, taking off with another Tempest. The caption said the wingman did not return from this mission. It was no game to these guys . My understanding is he spoke very good English. He like many pilots flying the top line aircraft loved the aircraft they flew . My father knew this guy, had his book . He flew Mustang Mk111’s
I have his Book, " the big Show " Wish this was in English. I would have been honoured to be his wingman. Voue etes tres manifique Monsieur. Merci beaucoup.
,très beau témoignage de ces chevaliers des temps modernes , qui se sont affrontés dans le ciel d'Europe - Magnifiques images de bravoure , de courage de ces hommes hors du commun qui ont écrit une page importante des heures sombres de notre histoire - Remarquable document remplie de modestie qui ne peut que forcer l'admiration et le respect envers ces combattants remplis de bravoure et d'humilité , qui s'affrontaient souvent dans un respect mutuel - Didier
Merci Mr Clostermann. Toute mon admiration pour votre témoignage et votre livre que j ai pu lire et relire lorsque j étais jeune. Fantastique expérience, d un moment d une vie bien remplie.
Tu sais qu'il a rien de Brésilien sauf le lieu de naissance... et il ne sais jamais battu pour ce pays mais bien pour la France. Je suis fière d'être français !
Il n'a jamais nié le Brésil, les années 50, si je ne me trompe pas, il a rendu visite à des pilotes brésiliens qui ont combattu en Italie aux côtés du Brésil, et il a aussi une rue en son honneur dans sa ville natale
@@scorpiox-3709... he had both nationalities, and he not only was born in Brazil, he studied here in Brazilian schools as a boy and teenager, and also learned to fly here. He left Brazil only because he felt it was his duty as a French to fight for his country. He also spoke a perfect Brazilian portuguese. There's a street in Curitiba named "Rue Aviateur Pierre-Henri Clostermann", because he was born there.
Exceptionnel personnage Grand pilote Hero de guerre Dans les souvenirs je me rappelle d’une interview dans laquelle il racontait que tout pilote savait en partant en mission sa probabilité d’y rester ... 1/3 si je me rappelle bien. Merci à ces gens. Respect!
il racontait bien les choses Clostermann... Merci à lui et à Daniel Costelle de nous avoir laissé ces témoignages importants pour les générations futures et amtateurs d'aviation que nous sommes.
Un combattant français qui parle avec respect des combattants allemands et humilité des aviateurs tombés au cours de la guerre, nos politiques devraient en prendre de la graine eux qui sont prompts à réclamer le respect et se donnent souvent en exemple dans l’hémicycle de l’assemblée par leurs impolitesses.
A distinguished brave Pilot! we knew him on his book a lot of years ago, Thanks Pierre for your legacy! Watch over us from heaven, French-Brazil pride. F.Viaud / El Salvador/ C.A.
As a ten year old his was the first book that i read from cover to cover, so many years later i met a friend of his in Thailand and he told me some very interesting stories of their time together. A marvelous Frenchman .
I recently read Pierre's book, 'The Big Show'. A fascinating look into the world of pilots. I was amazed to find this, and sad that I don't speak French. Rest easy, Pierre. You've earned it...
I've read "The Big Show" several times. It's probably my favourite fighter pilot book along with Samurai. But I don't recall him mentioning being shot down even once in that book.
@jimzeleny= You are mistaken. I don’t have the book with me right now, but I have read it several times. The shooting down happens near the end of the book (Apr.22 1945), when he was flying over Germany from a base in Netherlands. He was leading a group of eight Tempests and a FW 190 came from the clouds. Three down, including Clostermann’s in half a minute.
My French was only good enough t o understand 50% although I got the gist of it- thank you for the translation. Pierre Clostermann - awesome combat pilot and I highly recommend 'The Big Show' - one of the most engaging personal accounts of WW2 in the air I have read in a while. RIP
He first says : "The reason those German pilots were so superior was that they kept on fighting through Poland, France, Battle of Britain... Luftwaffe was really cruel, they flew them to their death. When you met one of these very experienced pilots you didn't have a chance. I was shot down twice."
This interview took place in 1980. After many searchs with Molge a german ace , Clostermann knew in 1996 the name of the pilot that refused to kill him without defence. This ace was Captain Dortenmann. Clostermann says an obvious fact : some german pilots in 1945 fought since 1936 in Spain, so 10 years without never stop. Naturally when pilots with few experience french, british,american met these tigers, even if they are numerous in this case 8/1 , the chance to save their life was thin.
It was not so obvious in that he said that these german pilots never had vacations / off duty tour so to speak (or I guess very little) as compared to the normal RAF crew rotation. That's how they became so experienced as well.
Too True !! Many people on this site are prepared to make comments ,with little factual knowledge . Good on you for getting it right - I have also read the big show ,, Regards Hoges - ps -his encounter with Hans Dortmann is quite interesting -although another web site claims another pilot ( not Soffing either) shot Clostermann down ..
and I saw this explosion, I felt the shock when the engine stopped, and I thought "That's it, he will kill me". I was too low to open my parachute, so I turned, he passed by and I saw the pilot very distincly - his aircraft was upside down 10m above me - starring at me. He was desperately trying to slow down, maybe afraid that I may shoot him - as he was faster than me with my dead engine - so he slid around me and got off. I landed the aircraft near the Lac du Maire (Mayor's lake) in a swamp ..
Pierre etait aussi un grand pecheur membre de l'IGFA il a ecrit 2superbe ouvrage ou il raconte simplement ses histoires de peche "Memoires au bout d'un fil" "Des poissons si grands"
Small summary and translation for those who do not understand French: "-Yes we can say that the Russian planes were less efficient, but no, because there are those who have had victories on the other front. Here is the explanation, I know some who survived [he speaks about the German airmen] who started to fight in 36 during the war of spain then the campaign of poland then the campaign of france, then the battle of London, because the Luftwaffe was cruel, they sent pilots in mission until they died. We were send to do 80-100, maybe 110 missions then we were sent to rest, them, they never quit. When they survived you had people who had absolutely fabulous combat experience." [end of quote 1:00] After, he explains that the game was to guess when we met this kind of pilot, that it was like being followed by a wild beast, that when you see this kind of pilot you had absolutely no chance, your had to flee them at all costs. He also tells an anecdote of when he and his squadron of 8 planes were shot down by a single aviator of this kind. Very interesting stuff.
Quel héros. Il se battait avec un tel courage et une telle détermination. Il baptisa son avion "le Grand Charles". Après la Victoire il rentra en Paris pour être accueil par des "officiels" très douteux qui rappariaient de la nature pour le traiter en lâche qui s'était caché en Angleterre! Et en voyant ses médailles ils dirent que bien évidement à Londres les médailles s'offrent à n'importe à qui! Veuillez pardonner mon mauvais français..... Great hero. He fought with courage and determination. He christened his 'plane "le Grand Charles". After VE day he returned to Paris to be met by shady characters who appeared from nowhere and called him a coward for hiding in England. Seeing his medals they said that in London, obviously they were giving medals away to anyone.
Besides the better-known "Big Show" (Le Grand Cirque) he also wrote an inspiring collection of short accounts of different theatres of the air war, "Flames in the Sky" (Feux du Ciel), published as a paperback in the late 1950's. Well worth looking for in 2hd bookshops.
Quel regret de ne pas m'être intéressé à ce personnage plus tôt. Bien que n'ayant pas grandi en Alsace, il semble en avoir hérité le caractère "tête de lard" de ses habitants (c'est un compliment) qui peut vite être difficile à supporter pour les gens qui n'y sont pas habitués. Ses emportements de jeune député ou ses prises de positions pendant la guerre des Malouines en témoignent. Etre après-guerre, ami avec Hans Rudel et Ezer Weizman n'est pas vraiment un exemple de "politiquement correcte". Cela témoigne surtout d'un homme libre, d'un esprit libre. Ce qui nous manque cruellement de nos jours...
That he had close ties to Brazil is quite obvious. He was born and raised there. End of story. He always was a French citizen, fought in the FAFL (Free French Air Force) uniform all along WWII, engaged in French political life in support for de Gaulle, took part to the Algerian civil war in the French army and is now buried in France. Simple facts.
The Tempest is at Hendon and was painted as Clostermann's machine until repainted in 1991 - it was in fact a machine built post-war. In this vid Clostermann tells us how good the best Lutwaffe pilots were and relates an account of the combat in which he was shot down on 21 April 1945. Note the insciption 'Le Grand Charles' which was only painted on SN 222
3:53 The last words of this interview are really deep. The reporter asks him if there has ever been pilots who have killed pilots crashed to the ground The answer: "Vous savez... il y a toujours des gens qui... éprouvent le besoin de rendre la guerre plus horrible qu'elle est" The Translation: "You know ... there are always people who ... feel the need to make war more horrible than it is."
@murphyloi Read it once probably 15 yrs. ago. Always remember him talking about his friend "in his element" when it came to low flying. And, when he came across a Do 335. "One strange customer" or something like that.
Hi Gunzoline, Chakands is right. He was born in Brazil, Curitiba City, learnt to fly in Aeroclube do Brasil, in Rio de Janeiro, then move to USA, Malibu where he flew some more. He came back to Brazil to get documents, went via ship to South African then Liverpool. Started his carreer in FFAF with 350hrs flight. By the way he used to speak quite good portuguese, almost no accent. Anyway, he was a pure french in his heart but kept a respect for british, americans and brazilians. All the best.
Pierre Clostermann is French, although born in Brazil, simply son of a French diplomat stationed in Brazil so French ... he fought for the honor of his country .. France
![Le Grand cirque [DVD]](/img/n.gif)
For us non -french speaking, subtitles would be appreciated......this man is a legend!
He says that some German pilots were fighting from the Spanish war. Those pilots were (for him) the best. He has been shoot down twice and twice due to this kind of very experimented pilot. Then he tells the way he has been shot the second time. I confirm this guy was awesome...
I added an English transcription in the comments, look below and hopefully you will find it
Hi guys,
I have some informations about the German pilot who shot him down in april 1945, after some investigations from historians and German archives and squadron diaries plus survivor's log books, it's been discovered that Franck DORTENMAN, I think from JG3, shot CLOSTERMAN down.
That kind of experienced pilots were just a plea, "to be avoided like pest", I quote Pierre CLOSTERMAN'S interview.
Funny enough, DORTENMAN survived the war with 32 confirmed kills plus some "herauss schuss en" namely damaged aircrafts compelled to leave formation... CLOSTERMAN had about the same score.
I don't think they ever met after the shooting was over.
@@HkiBuzz Thanks Frederic, appreciated
Honneur et Respect,a nos pilotes de la France Libre!!!
Et Dieu sait de quoi il parle ! Si un pilote peut se permettre de vous donner un conseil, c'est bien lui.
A brave French patriot. His book 'The Big Show" is superb. RIP
He born in Brasil
Correct: Brazilian pilot 👍
@@adeildo84 french parents
Excellent Book !!! Just read it .
Wake up fight for France and this guys is french
I read his book 'The Big Show' as a young boy of seven or eight when I was in bed with measles. I was captivated and blown away by the excitement, loss, humour an dvivid descriptions of air combat. A truly great man.
I was 12 when I first read and was enthralled by The Big Show on first publication and that copy remains a treasured possession. No superior fighter pilot memoir has been written.
Extraordinaire condensé, quatre minutes pour narrer l'experience de ceux qui firent jetés dans ce tourbillon inimaginable. Je lis, j'écoute et pourtant jamais je ne vivrai quelque chose de comparable.
I borrowed the book from the library in 1976. I started reading and I couldn't stop. After reading it, I re-read it countless times. In my opinion, the book is one of the most captivating books.
Je l'ai rencontré en vrai, à un meeting à Abscheim, je devais avoir 12 ou 13 ans. Jacques Remlinger y était aussi. Je venais de découvrir "Le Grand Cirque". Il m'a signé un autographe sur l'exemplaire de mon grand-père, édition originale. Moment inoubliable.
i've read "le grand cirque" 30 times already and i never get tired of reading it..great book,amazing pilot...R.I.P pierre
quelle classe ce monsieur
A brave pilot and exponent of the Hawker Tempest. Author of one of the finest books about ariel combat ever written "The Big Show" a very fine read indeed. Not much glamour - just the truth.
This man is a legend.
His book: The Big Show' is a great read. I seem to recall he flew -- and survived -- flying in the Typhoon? (Actually it was the Tempest which he is leaning against). A brilliant, courageous pilot.
I read his book The Big Show several times as a kid.respect to you sir.
Chapeau bas grand maître Pierre Closterman !!!! héro, je vous ai toujours admiré Monsieur !!!!
I was 12 years old when I read the book The Big Show and was facinated. I read it over and over till it went missing some yearss later. Took me some 20 years to find it again, and also all the other ww2 books from him. Great man!!!
I corresponded with him a few times in the 1980's and read all of his books. A real hero who treated me well.
Thank goodness he was one our side. Great man. I just wish I listened in my French classes. If only they had shown clips like this then boy would I have concentrated harder!!
Je ne me lasse pas de cette courte interview.. La malice dans sa narration sent bien que c'était un pilote terre a terre et rempli de respect...
I read "Le Grand Cirque" when I was young, trying to get my hands on any books about flying I could put my hands on.
I was very impressed by his modesty, here is a French Hero, highly decorated fighter ace who is actually complimenting the opponents that he faced (i.e. the Germans). He stated that in his younger days as a fighter pilot, you become "cocky" or "proud as a peacock" as the routine of war settles in (that is true, I have been there), you become so tired, that you get to a point where you do not care anymore. He relates to an encounter 8 RAF fighters (he was flying a Tempest) against one German fighter ace who systematically shot them 1, 2, 3, the third one being Closterman. He saw the German pilot upside down, 10 meters from his canopy (~32') who "barrel-rolled his airplane to his other side fearing that he would overshoot Closterman (who had just lost his engine). Closterman ditched his A/C in a marsh, gear up, in the mud, as he was exiting his A/C, the German came back at him. Closterman thought that he was going to die, but the German passed by without shooting.
What a great man to have such respect for his opponents (both sides), thanks for the video, Ciao, L
***** Hi Marsh, thank you, I will look for that book, have a nice weekend, Ciao, L
Excellent Book I recently bought a copy. Read it first in the '70's.
I tead him too, same as you. But he had a bug up his butt about Americans. But the German dude did not shoot him (on the ground) because that would have been a war crime. And not very cricket.
I read his book decades ago. When I saw a new reedited edition on Amazon that had added material I ordered it. I was surprised that much of that added material was anti-American rants that was sometimes unfair and sometimes bordered on ridiculous.
@@PappyGunn Hi Pappy Gunn, really? I do not think that "war crimes" or "shooting someone on the ground" is much of a priority and/or concern in the heat of the action, in ground support, in strafing, especially when you have seen many of your brothers-in-arms torn to pieces in combat and... I have been there. I read the first edition (sixties, French class), I do not recall badmouthing Americans. Ciao, L (Veteran)
I read his autobiography many years ago. He loved what he called his beloved RAF and was a great defender of freedom. He was quite disillusioned by France on his return after the war.
J'ai lu 2 fois son livre " le grand cirque", très bon livre
He was not only a wonderful writer, he was also an aeronautical engineer (San Diego California's Ryan School of Aeronautics). After the war he became an aircraft manufacturer. He built Cessna airplanes in France and other G.A aircrafts for the european market. He also served for many years as an elected member of the French Parliament. He was a multi talented man. RIP.
I have had a 1:72 JF-E Tempest on my shelf since 1972! :-)
I have a 1:72 Tempest Mk V finished June 2023!
Great short interview. I wanted to add an English translation in the subtitles, but the video is locked and I cannot do it. So here is, below, a transcript of this clip:
[narrator]: Pierre Clostermann, French fighter ace, has fought these German pilots. He knows the answer.
[PC]: You could say ”yes, but it was on the eastern front, the Russians had less sophisticated airplanes..”- No, because there are those who had victories on our front. And here is the reason: I know some, who survived, that started fighting in 1936 in Spain, then fought in the Polish campaign, the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, because the Luftwaffe was extremely cruel and got its men to fly until death.
We used to fly 80, 100, 110 missions, then were sent to rest. They never unharnessed. When they survived, you would find people with a fabulous level of experience.
You did not have a choice. If you would encounter one of the German pilots with the greatest experience, you had absolutely no chance to get away with it. The main thing was to guess that one of them was around. Like you would feel a wildcat being around. You lock yourself in. In the same way if you could guess that in a dogfight there was one of them around, you had to avoid him like the plague. Twice I did not avoid him, I could not.
I got shot down twice. Once on the 12th of May 1943, and on the 21st of April, 1945. In 1945 I was on top form and being reckless, because you get reckless when you are tired, kind of doped as war can get you feel in this kind of operation, so - I was not very modest. Within 35 seconds, I was brought back to absolute modesty: the one of total fear, when you think ”my God this is it, it is the end”, by a German pilot. We were eight planes, he was on his own and he made a show. One two three, and it was done.
[narrator]: Who was it?
[PC]: I never found out. He could have killed me. The moment my engine stopped, I saw a shell slide and explode just above the crosses [translator's note: he points towrds the victory crosses on the plane]. But on this day I was not flying my own plane. Everytime I had, for some technical reason, to fly a plane other than my own, I encountered an issue. It is very curious. I saw this plane explode, I felt the shock when the engine stopped, and I thought, this is it. I am done.
Too low to bail out, I turned and he passed nearby, I saw very well the pilot, as he passed inverted above me, very slowly, he was about ten meters above me, and he was looking at me. I could see he was desperately trying to brake down . Maybe he got scared that I, in a last reflex, would shoot at him, as his own engine was running and he was faster than I, and he slid around. I could land the plane near the Lac du Maire, meaning in a swamp, landed with wheels up of course, the plane was covered in mud, I left the plane like a madman, I unharnessed very quickly, slid on the wing, fell out, and I saw him approach and I thought ”He is going to shoot at me. This is not possible, he cannot do it?” I would never had done it myself. And he did not do it.
Quel grand monsieur ! Mon ancien professeur d'histoire, Mr luxardo a eu la chance de le rencontrer avant qu'il décède..
Un grand monsieur qui nous a quitté
Great pilot, a gentleman born and raised in Brazil, where he first learned to fly and even designed and developed an airplane...
Had a strong friendship with Brazilian pilots and spoke a perfect Brazilian portuguese.
Remember a photo in his book, taking off with another Tempest. The caption said the wingman did not return from this mission. It was no game to these guys . My understanding is he spoke very good English. He like many pilots flying the top line aircraft loved the aircraft they flew . My father knew this guy, had his book . He flew Mustang Mk111’s
Thank you for everything, Pierre !
I have his Book, " the big Show " Wish this was in English. I would have been honoured to be his wingman. Voue etes tres manifique Monsieur. Merci beaucoup.
Quel plaisir de voir cette homme enfin après avoir lu son magnifique livre depuis si longtemps déjà.
,très beau témoignage de ces chevaliers des temps modernes , qui se sont affrontés dans le ciel d'Europe - Magnifiques images de bravoure , de courage de ces hommes hors du commun qui ont écrit une page importante des heures sombres de notre histoire - Remarquable document remplie de modestie qui ne peut que forcer l'admiration et le respect envers ces combattants remplis de bravoure et d'humilité , qui s'affrontaient souvent
dans un respect mutuel - Didier
Merci Mr Clostermann. Toute mon admiration pour votre témoignage et votre livre que j ai pu lire et relire lorsque j étais jeune. Fantastique expérience, d un moment d une vie bien remplie.
Brasil fan, with love.
Orgulho e Honra por ser brasileiro !
Obrigado Pierre Henri Clostermann !
Sua historia sera sempre lembrada por todos !
Tu sais qu'il a rien de Brésilien sauf le lieu de naissance... et il ne sais jamais battu pour ce pays mais bien pour la France. Je suis fière d'être français !
Il n'a jamais nié le Brésil, les années 50, si je ne me trompe pas, il a rendu visite à des pilotes brésiliens qui ont combattu en Italie aux côtés du Brésil, et il a aussi une rue en son honneur dans sa ville natale
@@scorpiox-3709... he had both nationalities, and he not only was born in Brazil, he studied here in Brazilian schools as a boy and teenager, and also learned to fly here. He left Brazil only because he felt it was his duty as a French to fight for his country. He also spoke a perfect Brazilian portuguese. There's a street in Curitiba named "Rue Aviateur Pierre-Henri Clostermann", because he was born there.
@@PauloPereira-jj4jv it's true
Exceptionnel personnage
Grand pilote
Hero de guerre
Dans les souvenirs je me rappelle d’une interview dans laquelle il racontait que tout pilote savait en partant en mission sa probabilité d’y rester ... 1/3 si je me rappelle bien.
Merci à ces gens. Respect!
C'est l ' « étoffe des héros » . Clostermann était un héros .
Il a eu beaucoup de chance , aussi.
Quand je vois un avion de guerre , je pense à lui.
@@jjvv7578 merci pour la précision, je vais essayer de le retrouver sur utube
il racontait bien les choses Clostermann... Merci à lui et à Daniel Costelle de nous avoir laissé ces témoignages importants pour les générations futures et amtateurs d'aviation que nous sommes.
Un combattant français qui parle avec respect des combattants allemands et humilité des aviateurs tombés au cours de la guerre, nos politiques devraient en prendre de la graine eux qui sont prompts à réclamer le respect et se donnent souvent en exemple dans l’hémicycle de l’assemblée par leurs impolitesses.
A distinguished brave Pilot! we knew him on his book a lot of years ago, Thanks Pierre for your legacy! Watch over us from heaven, French-Brazil pride.
F.Viaud / El Salvador/ C.A.
Outstanding pilot and author. Much love and respect from Italy.
A great pilot and a great writer. "The Big Show" is the best war book I ever read
As a ten year old his was the first book that i read from cover to cover, so many years later i met a friend of his in Thailand and he told me some very interesting stories of their time together. A marvelous Frenchman .
I recently read Pierre's book, 'The Big Show'. A fascinating look into the world of pilots. I was amazed to find this, and sad that I don't speak French. Rest easy, Pierre. You've earned it...
He was born in my city Curitiba, Brasil. That's why he was so good!
:)
Le héros de ma jeunesse 👍👍👍💞💞💞
I've read "The Big Show" several times. It's probably my favourite fighter pilot book along with Samurai. But I don't recall him mentioning being shot down even once in that book.
@jimzeleny= You are mistaken. I don’t have the book with me right now, but I have read it several times.
The shooting down happens near the end of the book (Apr.22 1945), when he was flying over Germany from a base in Netherlands. He was leading a group of eight Tempests and a FW 190 came from the clouds. Three down, including Clostermann’s in half a minute.
Thanks for posting,I havent had the great oportunity to know Pierre Closterman, just in pictures...We love his great book "Le Grand Cirque".
I wish there was an english translation of this interview
Just re-read "The Big Show" again, brilliant book, even with a few inaccuracies. And yes a translation is needed here ! merci
quelle éloquence , il est humble , et passionant.
Viva a Pierre Closterman!
Um Heroi pra nós Brasileiro e Franceses.
Que HOMEM!!!! 😍😍😍
Genial cet interview. Tres interessant. Il devait faire reference a Adolf Galland notamment.
I read his book the " Big Show" as a school boy a long time ago.
My French was only good enough t o understand 50% although I got the gist of it- thank you for the translation.
Pierre Clostermann - awesome combat pilot and I highly recommend 'The Big Show' - one of the most engaging personal accounts of WW2 in the air I have read in a while.
RIP
He was an extraordinary man. His very frank account of combat and his natural human reactions to it reached out to me during my service in the Army.
He first says : "The reason those German pilots were so superior was that they kept on fighting through Poland, France, Battle of Britain... Luftwaffe was really cruel, they flew them to their death. When you met one of these very experienced pilots you didn't have a chance. I was shot down twice."
This interview took place in 1980.
After many searchs with Molge a german ace , Clostermann knew in 1996 the name of the pilot that refused to kill him without defence.
This ace was Captain Dortenmann.
Clostermann says an obvious fact : some german pilots in 1945 fought since 1936 in Spain, so 10 years without never stop.
Naturally when pilots with few experience french, british,american met these tigers, even if they are numerous in this case 8/1 , the chance to save their life was thin.
It was not so obvious in that he said that these german pilots never had vacations / off duty tour so to speak (or I guess very little) as compared to the normal RAF crew rotation. That's how they became so experienced as well.
Merveilleux
A great pilot,a real Patriot,and above all a great man.RIP with your fellows of Free French Forces.
Amazing Brazilian pilot!
Pierre Clostermann l'As des As français pilote d'avion de chasse pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale pourtant personne n'en parle
Un grand respect envers ces adversaires un sens auto critique incroyable et un panache digne des plus grands la classe française à sont paroxysme
Too True !! Many people on this site are prepared to make comments ,with little factual knowledge . Good on you for getting it right - I have also read the big show ,, Regards Hoges - ps -his encounter with Hans Dortmann is quite interesting -although another web site claims another pilot ( not Soffing either) shot Clostermann down ..
Ele é nascido em Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil
The German pilot was Dortenmann and his plane a FW 190 D9.
Great man who wrote a very good book on his experiences .
His book is fantastic. You feel the brotherhood between French and English pilots.
Pierre Clostermann!
The big showman and The Tempest Driver!
Great pilot…. I’ve read his book also……flew Tempests too😎💪🏼
and I saw this explosion, I felt the shock when the engine stopped, and I thought "That's it, he will kill me". I was too low to open my parachute, so I turned, he passed by and I saw the pilot very distincly - his aircraft was upside down 10m above me - starring at me. He was desperately trying to slow down, maybe afraid that I may shoot him - as he was faster than me with my dead engine - so he slid around me and got off. I landed the aircraft near the Lac du Maire (Mayor's lake) in a swamp ..
Pierre etait aussi un grand pecheur membre de l'IGFA il a ecrit 2superbe ouvrage ou il raconte simplement ses histoires de peche
"Memoires au bout d'un fil"
"Des poissons si grands"
His book the big show is the best combat memoir of ww2. Haunting at the end when he thinks he sees all his dead friends in the mess bar.
The Big Show is one of the best books I have ever read.
Small summary and translation for those who do not understand French: "-Yes we can say that the Russian planes were less efficient, but no, because there are those who have had victories on the other front. Here is the explanation, I know some who survived [he speaks about the German airmen] who started to fight in 36 during the war of spain then the campaign of poland then the campaign of france, then the battle of London, because the Luftwaffe was cruel,
they sent pilots in mission until they died. We were send to do 80-100, maybe 110 missions then we were sent to rest, them, they never quit. When they survived you had people who had absolutely fabulous combat experience." [end of quote 1:00] After, he explains that the game was to guess when we met this kind of pilot, that it was like being followed by a wild beast, that when you see this kind of pilot you had absolutely no chance, your had to flee them at all costs. He also tells an anecdote of when he and his squadron of 8 planes were shot down by a single aviator of this kind. Very interesting stuff.
Outstanding pilot ace of WWII.
Quel héros. Il se battait avec un tel courage et une telle détermination. Il baptisa son avion "le Grand Charles". Après la Victoire il rentra en Paris pour être accueil par des "officiels" très douteux qui rappariaient de la nature pour le traiter en lâche qui s'était caché en Angleterre! Et en voyant ses médailles ils dirent que bien évidement à Londres les médailles s'offrent à n'importe à qui! Veuillez pardonner mon mauvais français.....
Great hero. He fought with courage and determination. He christened his 'plane "le Grand Charles". After VE day he returned to Paris to be met by shady characters who appeared from nowhere and called him a coward for hiding in England. Seeing his medals they said that in London, obviously they were giving medals away to anyone.
Much respect, thank you for defending our freedoms.
Pure true!!!
Salute!
Besides the better-known "Big Show" (Le Grand Cirque) he also wrote an inspiring collection of short accounts of different theatres of the air war, "Flames in the Sky" (Feux du Ciel), published as a paperback in the late 1950's.
Well worth looking for in 2hd bookshops.
tres grand respect pour ses pilotes qui ont vécu la guerre , honneur a ses hommes d exception !!
Le livre "LE Grand Cirque" est un classique. Très bon. Je veux encore obtenir une autre copie.
A legend - subtitles please?
@FalkeEins I was at Hendon in 1984 and this Tempest was already under different markings, no more JF-E nor JJ-B for sure.
Quel homme, le grand Pierre. Héros de la chasse de la France libre
Quel regret de ne pas m'être intéressé à ce personnage plus tôt. Bien que n'ayant pas grandi en Alsace, il semble en avoir hérité le caractère "tête de lard" de ses habitants (c'est un compliment) qui peut vite être difficile à supporter pour les gens qui n'y sont pas habitués. Ses emportements de jeune député ou ses prises de positions pendant la guerre des Malouines en témoignent. Etre après-guerre, ami avec Hans Rudel et Ezer Weizman n'est pas vraiment un exemple de "politiquement correcte". Cela témoigne surtout d'un homme libre, d'un esprit libre. Ce qui nous manque cruellement de nos jours...
Легенда! Его книга "Большое шоу - вторая мировая" - одна из любимых.
That he had close ties to Brazil is quite obvious. He was born and raised there. End of story. He always was a French citizen, fought in the FAFL (Free French Air Force) uniform all along WWII, engaged in French political life in support for de Gaulle, took part to the Algerian civil war in the French army and is now buried in France. Simple facts.
The Tempest is at Hendon and was painted as Clostermann's machine until repainted in 1991 - it was in fact a machine built post-war. In this vid Clostermann tells us how good the best Lutwaffe pilots were and relates an account of the combat in which he was shot down on 21 April 1945. Note the insciption 'Le Grand Charles' which was only painted on SN 222
3:53 The last words of this interview are really deep.
The reporter asks him if there has ever been pilots who have killed pilots crashed to the ground
The answer:
"Vous savez... il y a toujours des gens qui... éprouvent le besoin de rendre la guerre plus horrible qu'elle est"
The Translation:
"You know ... there are always people who ... feel the need to make war more horrible than it is."
Yes, you immediately realize that he speak from deep and profound experience there. Having seen so many atrocities on both sides of the war.
Tout simplement magnifique quel pilote quel brave ! est ce que quelqu un saurait si c'etait possible d avoir le reste de cette interview ??
Subtitles would be awesome - loved his book.
He's my mentor
Je pense qu'on peut à peine imaginer le niveau des as allemands de cette époque.
Une Légende a lui seul !!
Passionnant!
He came to Argentina to meet the war pilots. He really love they spirit to fight for The true. Was a good man RIP
@Iclo22 Thanks.
@murphyloi Read it once probably 15 yrs. ago. Always remember him talking about his friend "in his element" when it came to low flying. And, when he came across a Do 335. "One strange customer" or something like that.
Hi Gunzoline,
Chakands is right. He was born in Brazil, Curitiba City, learnt to fly in Aeroclube do Brasil, in Rio de Janeiro, then move to USA, Malibu where he flew some more. He came back to Brazil to get documents, went via ship to South African then Liverpool. Started his carreer in FFAF with 350hrs flight. By the way he used to speak quite good portuguese, almost no accent.
Anyway, he was a pure french in his heart but kept a respect for british, americans and brazilians.
All the best.
RIP Pierre! Wish the would make a movie based on his book.
Pierre Clostermann is French, although born in Brazil, simply son of a French diplomat stationed in Brazil so French ...
he fought for the honor of his country .. France