The Big Show - A Fantastic Read
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Review of the "The Big Show", the memoirs of Pierre Clostermann, a French pilot that fought with the RAF during the Second World War.
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I've been reading "Le Grand Cirque" multiple times since I was about 15 years old, and had the privilege of Meeting Pierre Clostermann once at a french school's mate home in Lisbon for he used to come to Portugal to fish Marlins and swordfishes at Sesimbra. There was a special aura around him, a sort of shiness in him or, maybe was it his humbleness... just a normal guy in civilian clothes. I didn't have the courage to ask him about his flying in RAF... he was and still is one of my most respected heroes, and I an airplane lover for as long as I could remember. He also has another air-war book named "Feux du ciel" -Fires in the Sky where he retells WW II episodes and stories of other pilots. Thank you for your review. Best regards.
Another really good book is I Flew for the Fuhrer by Heinz..Knoke? I had a set of books as a kid which included The Big Show, I Flew for the Fuhrer, and several other excellent WW2 memoirs.
I also bought Knoke s book and read it. Im Portuguese and usually buy my books on Ebay. Clostermann was French of Brazilian origin. A humble man, he was deeply sad with Nowotny's death, as pointed in the video. He also barely escaped death when his Squadron meat a swarm of Doras. One of them methodically shot every plane of his formation, and was never locked in his gunsight during all the encounter, disengaged at his will. Remarkable diary this book.
I had a similar collection in fact I still have them all
This really is an incredible book! We don’t get that much insight from the Free French forces who fought in WWII, but Clostermann and the Normandie-Niemen Air Regiment give a pretty distinct picture from a fighter pilot’s perspective!
For other memoirs, I’d recommend the likes of:
Fly For Your Life (story of Bob Stanford-Tuck)
Reach For the Sky (story of Douglas Bader)
First and the Last (Adolf Galland)
Blond Knight of Germany (Erich Hartmann)
One-Man Air Force (Don Gentile, USAF)
Samurai (Saburo Sakai)
Baa Baa Black Sheep (Gregory “Pappy” Boyington)
Tumult in the Clouds (Jim Goodson, USAAF 4th Fighter Group)
These are all great books and, I know it’s a lot and exhaustive, but these are some of the more highly-recommended and best-written of Pilot memoirs!
A good list but missing one....Wing Leader by James Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson, a student of Bader and his number two and later commanding his own wing in the advance through France, Holland and Belgium. Top allied ace in the ETO. I have a first edition which I was lucky to find many years after first reading it in my schools library.
I got myself for Christmas "Reach for the Sky" and "First and the Last." I just started to read the former. Just so you know, I'll blame you if I don't like it! 😁
Just kidding, but thank you very much for your suggestions and best wishes for the holidays.
@@AllthingsWW2 Gallands book is full of numbers - tonnages, troops, gallons, aircraft, pilots - and kind of remote. A far more personal account of a Luftwaffe pilots war was A Higher Call, by Adam Makos, telling the remarkable life story of Franz Stigler. You may have it. Happy New Year.
While I regularly see BlK&White prints, photos from Boyington's Black Sheep in our Great Plains Wing museum I'm still not a fan of his,... or another ace whose victory claims may not have held up to post war scrutiny, Saburo Sakai. So many aces and pilots wrote of their experiences, the ones who shared more humility, and respect for their friends and enemies, IMO, often make for better reading.
I read that book about 65 years ago and it was an instant favourite. He also wrote another excellent book, :Flames in the Sky". I hioghly recommend it as another great read.
I'll surely check it out! Thank you.
I'm French, 60 years old.
I still remember the first time I read "Le Grand Cirque" (the Big Show). I was 13 years old and overwelmed because Clostermann could tell so vividly what the WW2 airwar was for the young generation of 1975 who knew nothing about war.
Thirty years after 1945 there was no internet and almost nothing on French TV ... and no simulation game !
Memoirs like the one from RAF top ace Johnny Johnson were quite a boring read in comparison because of the British tradition of downplaying their own accomplishments and success.
When I was 19 years old and I was studying at university to become a history teacher... I got suspicious as there were too many holes in Clostermann story. Something was "off" ... you know... just like a fishy smell... It just couldn't pass a deep scrutiny.
In early 90's a whole bunch of reseachers and amateur historians started digging in the dusty RAF archives which for the most part had stayed undisturbed since 1945.
In the early 2000 as internet spread quickly researchers could easier communicate with each other , exchange copies of primary documents and confront diverse information. It was for me and many history buffs an exhilarating time.
Anyway , and unfortunately, parts of the book The Big Show ... as well as many interviews Clostermann gave later on turned out to be bogus !
Clostermann was a great ace, all right, but also a liar and a fiction story teller.
The Royal Air Force archives reveals that he was NEVER shot down over France or Germany as he claimed ...and never had to crash his airplane back at his base in England.
Also he never had 33 kills like he claimed but 11 (or maybe 12) which doesn't make him the highest French ace but the number 3.
He was awarded with one DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) and NOT 2... and never got a DSO (Distinguished Service Order) !
Anyway the list of those small lies is quite long... but easily verifiable nowadays.
Behind a charming and humble "mister nice guy" that he played very well was actually a bragger, a narcissistic guy and a manipulator.
His book is a good read... for teenagers like I was... but 40% is pure fiction !
It reminds me of Hollywood movies so called "based on a real life story" ... where basically half is just made up !
Steven Spielberg films come to mind.
Clostermann was the frog that wanted to be bigger than an ox ... and he succeeded !
He is now in France and in the world a holy figure 😇 that can not be criticized.
His admirers will blindly chew you up for that.
But as Mark Twain famously said already 150 years ago :
“It's easer to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled !"
Yep, people LOVE to be fooled ... and politicians all over the world know that very well ! 🤔
I read your post carefully and did some small research of my own. Much of what you say seems to be true, and it is sad to know that unfortunately, Mr. Clostermann might have added details to his story.
Nevertheless, I'll stick to almost everything I said in the video. The book is fantastic, even if it does go more into the fiction department.
My approach to reading pilot memoirs is always a cautious one, and it's not the same as reading a fully-fledged history book. Unfortunately we all know that most pilot claims made during the war wouldn't live long under scrutiny. I don't think pilots are liars, but it seems to be the nature of air warfare that overclaiming is highly common.
The search for the truth is always commendable and desirable, but unfortunately, we all know that it tends not to sell. But, at least in my channel, you'll always be able to criticize anything and everything.
You opened my eyes to some issues with his story, and I'll thank you for that.
@@AllthingsWW2 No problem ! I subscribed to your channel a while back because of the quality of its content.
Clostermann is just one topic I spent more time studying long ago ... and so I thought I would briefly share some info.
In the Pacific theater another "character" who took some liberty with the truth was the famous "Pappy" Boyington who built a whole legend around himself... though in both cases I highly respect those young men and what they achieved in very difficult (dangerous) times. And yes, in comparison, we are only armchair historians ! 😉
Oh la comme vous y aller fort monsieur…c est facile de critiquer mais vos propos et accusations sont ..degeulasses . Que le palmarès de Closterman ait été « aidé « est possible,comme cela a été souvent le cas pour les grands as de la dernière grande guerre,pour des raisons de propagande , mais voyez vous , vos « recherches » , et vos assertions sans aucun arguments ni preuves donnent la nausée…Closterman était sans doute un personnage haut en couleur et idéaliste, qui a quitté sa famille et son pays pendant 4 ans a l âge de 20 ans..Au risque d y perdre la vie
A chaque mission. C est un as. Et c est de plus un grand auteur. Voilà le souvenir qu il nous laissera. Certainement pas vous et votre diarrhée.
My uncle served with a famous British fighter ace & absolutely hated him for his lies & glory seeking. I won't say who, but at the time the nation needed heroes & this man was happy to play the role of one.
@@papalegba6796 Not suprised.
Clostermann was not popular among the other French pilots who flew in the RAF and knew him personally. But as you said when his book came shortly after the end of WW2 people were hungry for heroes and glorious stories. Clostermann was probably the first one surprised to see how successful his book was.
He started believing his own lies and 40 years later (in the 80's) with his fame growing ... he started making ridiculous claims that attracted the attention of serious historians and researchers like Christopher Shores.
Anyway a colourful guy. And thanks to him a lot of us got interested into the history of airwar.
He also did the foreword for the French edition of Hans-Ulrich Rudel's book, he ended it by saying; "What a pity that he hadn't worn our uniform." Definitely getting his book as well.
Personally I'll recommend Der Kommandeur by Heinz-Georg Migeod, Memoirs of a Stuka Pilot by Helmut Mahlke, and of course Rudel's autobiography, if you want more Rudel, there's also a book called Stuka Pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel: His life story in words and photographs, by Günther Just, which includes hundreds of photographs of Rudel from before, during, and after the war in chronological order, with detailed descriptions of all of them, it's very good.
Thank you for the suggestions!
I remember "Stuka Pilot" by Rudel as an exciting report on missions and war, but sadly H-URudel was reportedly a hard core Nazi, so deceived by Hitler's black, dark, evil machine which brought so much death to Europe.
"Thunderbolt" by Robert S. Johnson was good. I also had a biography or autobiography by Robert Stanford Tuck that riveted my attention when I was young.
edit: Saburo Sakai had a good one, too. If one is into the naval war in the Pacific "Japanese Destroyer Captain" and "I Boat Captain" are both worthy reads.
“ War in a Stringbag “ , recommended
Added "Thunderbolt" to my ever-increasing to read list! Thank you.
Brilliant book this. Got the longer, 'proper' version after reading the ordinary one sadly, but it's the insight to PTSD as much as anything that I found interesting. Whole book's a treat. France's most decorated citizen, I gather.
I've read this book 4 times and it's one of my favorite books
I have been collecting WW2 aviation books since I was a teenager (retired now, have over 100 books) and The Big Show is amongst my favorites. Wish they would make a movie about it.
Thank you for the discount code 👍; I read this book in my youth, I have it on my shelf, I recommend it to those who want to know more about ww2
One of my first WWII airwar books - a fantastic one, gave me a lifeling passion for planes and WWII!!
Yes, I read that book some 40 years ago, it's a wonderful read and gives you a lot of insight of the life of a pilot.
I read it a couple of months ago. Fascinating. I noted with interest that his first training establishment in the UK was at Rednal airfield in Shropshire which is near where I live and I often pass it although it’s no longer an airfield but a rural industrial estate.
Of all the auto-biography books I loved "Stuka Pilot" the most. Ulrich Rudels personal diary. Awesome book :D
You're not the first to recommend that book. I'll certainly give it a look!
I first read The Big Show in about 1956/7 when at boarding school. I never forgot it and am currently listening to the audio book. BTW really great illustrations with this video they really enhance the narrative,
I did read his book translated in italian, my language, and i was struck by one citation, i quote it by heart: " one of my fellow pilots, not a philosopher or whatever, one day said "the first man who painted a nationality marking on a plane was a pig!". This remark struck me as a stone.
I read the book when I was a boy and enjoyed it a lot despite the adults in the room saying that the stories were a bit "inaccurate". I met the man in the 70's in Rio in one of his frequent visits to Brazil (he was born in the South of Brazil).
I recommend Den Leighton's books (Fighter and Bomber) and Geoffrey Wellum's First Light
Thank you!
I have a first edition hardcover book which I bought many years ago from a museum that was culling its library. Such a wonderful find....I feel as though I rescued it from an unknown, probable dire fate.🙂 Following Clostermann's last flight with Le Grand Charles, his description of that final landing and taxiing to park has me near tears each time I read it. I highly recommend "Terror in the Starboard Seat" by Dave McIntosh. It's a story of a "terrified" Canadian navigator and his "driver", a crazy Jewish American in the RCAF, who seemed determined to kill every last Nazi. It's a self-deprecating, tongue in cheek look at spine chilling exploits in hazardous times..
Wings On My Sleeve by Captain Eric “winkle” Brown, one incredible story
A Fleet Air Arms pilot with an incredible world record of 2,407 deck landings
Got it! Great book!
You have to review an Eric Brown book. With who he was, it's mandatory! ))
great book. remember it well. was lucky enough one day back in the `70s to take an interest in WWII and warbirds to walk in a book store an get this one along with Tuck!, Horrido!, Samuri, The First and The Last that sparked something that still smolders.
A great Man who dispelled many of my illusions/delusions about aspects of WW 2 G-D bless you Sir.
As a kid I read the book "Fly for your life",about Bob Stanford Tuck dozens of times untill the book literally fell apart. Great story indeed
Outstanding observations about Pierre and his book, "The Big Show," I know now that I'll have to read it. To answer your call for recommendations, I'll never forget a book I probably read 50 years ago, Adolf Galland's "The First and the Last," in the English translation. More recently the collections, works of the late Eric Hammel, and Barret Tillman are always good.
To you, I wonder if you saw a great article about Pierre Closterman, in one of Key Publishing's magazines, sorry I don't remember if it was "Aeroplane," or "Fly Past." Your video took less time to watch than the aforementioned article, but you made a better case, a more solid recommendation to get, "The Big Show." Because you did such a great job on this review, I'd say, "Yes!" you should do more reviews of the best books! Another example might be "A Higher Call," by Adam Makos, about an extraordinary meeting of a Luftwaffe ace, Franz Stigler in his Bf-109, and Charlie Brown in his first mission commanding a B-17, and the results of their meeting in the skies.
I don't know if someone already said it, but you sound exactly like *Georges St-Pierre* (with maybe a slightly deeper voice), but still!
I read Maj. James A. Goodsons' "Tumult In The Clouds" 30? 40? years ago. Much of it is still with me today.
I remember reading this book when I was a teenager. I agree with you. This is an excellent book that was very well written. I would recommend it.
Excellent video about an excellent book... It can put the reader in the middle of a dogfight as easily as it can put one trying to survive the deadly flak... all written by a man that really was there. One of the most impressive books about air combat ever!!! And besides, also written by a young and noble character, with an accurate and critical view of the war realities as a whole. Long live to this book, and to the memory of the galant men who fought in those deadly skies.
A read this book a long time ago. Such a good read! And I like that Clostermann wasn't really bragging, he was downplaying himself. Almost making himself seem like a clown at times. It was only after reading about him from other sources I realized he was a high-scoring ace.
A person that goes by the alias of 'Reflected Simulations' made a Digital Combat Simulator World campaign with missions and radio calls straight out of this book.
Thank you, excellent.
I have it on shelf, fairly close to the current reading edge.
If I would propose some biography, it would be definitely Jan Zumbachs 'On Wings of War: My Life as a Pilot Adventurer'. He is not as likable, but interesting one. After the war he was a pilot for hire, mainly in small African rebel states. This is everything you expect from a pilot in American movie, but true and not 'based' on true events. At least historians say so.
KI-44 please I love your work and I would love to learn more about one of my favourite plane from you
Will certainly do it.
Just finished for the fourth time . Classic
The First and the Last by Adolf Galland
Agreed. Great book. I actually listened to it on Audible. Cheating I know but it helps on long car journeys.
For a Typhoon specific account look at Typhoon Pilot by Group Captain Desmond Scott. Only Member of the RNZAF to command a mobile wing during Operation Overlord.
Red Star against the Swastika by Vasily Emelianenko is a fascinating account of an IL 2 pilot in service from the start of IL2 single seater operation to the Il10 in 1945. Vasily shows insight into what it was like flying and fighting the armoured attacker and the organisation and motivation inside the Red Airforce.
A Soviet pilot's memoirs written in English! I'll certainly give it a look.
The Emperor protects!
@@AllthingsWW2 Ave Imperator!
Vasily emigrated to Australia after the fall of the Soviet Union. That's how we are blessed by this account.
Have had a copy of that book for more than 70 years probably the best book regarding the air war I have ever read very well written
I have read every book mentioned in the comments and appreciated all. My favorite "must read " is the heartily recommended "I Flew for the Furher" by Heinz Knoke.
I'll check it out. Thank you!
Today you may find some that had a mission to talk bad about Clostermann, especially some British, that felt betrayed by a letter Pierre wrote praising Argentinian pilots during the Falkland War. It resulted in a couple books that try to debunk his victory claims.
But don't let that change your view from the man. The book still is the best WW2 pilot memoir and one of those books you turn the pages with gusto, and feel surprised how easy it was to flip over a couple hundred pages.
Other books that I can recommend are the Adolf Galland and Saburo Sakai ones. They had their fair share of adventures, and it is interesting the see the tides of the war changing from pilots of Axis powers point of view.
His stories were debunked by Sqn mates long before that.
Bom dia. Clostermann era brasileiro de uma família francesa. Teve sorte de ser criado em ambientes que valorizavam virtudes humanas, e isso o guiou por toda a vida. Forte abraço a todos.
Abraço de Portugal!
A book I enjoyed was I flew for the Führer by Heinz Knoke definitely worth a read
One of the great books.
Seems contradictory to everything I have read about the Luftwaffe in the last year of the war. Everything I read said the quality of pilot dropped of dramatically as the veterans were slowly getting killed off and young , inexperienced pilots were rushed up to take their place .. with very little training. Anyway I would like to read this book
Have the book here. They were, according to the book, in most cases fighting against a superiority of Luftwaffe pilots. which I doubt.
@@kalle123 👍🏻
@@guaporeturns9472
Why the attempt to belittle and ridicule them? 😂😂
@@loveofmangos001 Nobody got belittled or ridiculed here… but that is one of my favorite pastimes.
Exactly.
Agreed an excellent book. Tempest was bad ass.
I clicked because I read it and will read it again
Great book and story indeed. However I find some of the late war encounters with german fighters hard to believe. It almost feels like allies were outnumbered and skies were full of germans in his experience. I've read many books from both sides and the picture in those was different.
Excellent book
Good book❤😊
I read it a damm good book it is a must read
Sure is a great read.
A lot of that book has been debunked by the French. Clostermann definitely liked to tell stories.
True enough. His Sqn mates didn't believe his "stories" either.
Clostermann? The politician? LOL Not a lot of truths to his claims.
While the Big show is a good book,you also have,
Sweating heavy metal,
Heroes of the sky,
Five of the few,
Apache Dawn,
Hellfire,
Apache,
One of the Few,
Spirit of the blue,
Armed Action,
Silver Spitfire,
Gun button to Fire,
First Flight
and also
Enemy Coast ahead,
These are just a couple that I have in my Library,they are all well worth a read.
Thank you, I'll certainly check some of those.
『p』『r』『o』『m』『o』『s』『m』 ❤️