From what I gathered, as a fan of P.C. since childhood, is that Clostermann attended MIT as engineer ... and never stopped studying the enemy's planes, flying abilities and avionics, which got him to be very aware of the planes he was facing during the entire conflict. He continued studying the details of war, and as to his reputation, never bowed down to propaganda : he mocked the US approach of the "Private Ryan" movie, stating that the UK had lost so many more pilots, no other than British forces should be praised for resisting , fighting and winning WW2 on the western front. He also reminded everyone that the D-Day moment was a western point of view heroic moment, Russia having to face 50 armored divisions when the allied had 5 to face in Normandy.
He was also very likeable and unpretentious, judging from the French interviews I saw. He pointed out that the Spitifire out-turning the FW-190A or the Me-109G, below 280 knots, at speeds where turning rapidly slowed things down to around a 200 knots, was "a good joke"... And I believe him, as the Russians and the top Spitfire ace, Johnny Johnson, said the exact same things in different words. Clostermann called the Spitfire's turn performance "a die hard legend", but still liked the aircraft, as do I, but for the right reasons: It's climb and dive rate... The Spitfire could stall itself in full control, wings rumbling, and briefly point the nose across to a smaller circle, but it still made the wider circle, and such brief snapshots were not often effective. It was a sound, very hard climbing aircraft, but of limited maneuverability.
First read the Big Show when at school in 1957 or 1958.What a stroke of luck to find this wonderful book in my desk.I've lost count of how many times I've read it since.I would recommend it to anyone interested in the 2nd world war.
Pierre Clostermann, le héros de ma jeunesse, j'ai eu la chance de correspondre avec lui lorsque j'étais un jeune officier... d'infanterie. J'ai lu et relu tous ces livres. Respect. 👍👍👍💞💞💞🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
There is a big mistake on the count of victories : the RAF confirmed 23 of his victories by the end of WWII, which is also the number he always claimed. After the end of the war, the French Air Force confirmed a few more victories, bringing the total count to 33.
Sir, thank you for this video. Isn't it true that: 1 - He retained his French Armée de l'Air rank of Sous-Lieutenant (Sub-Lt)? 2 - When he returned to post-WW2 France he was at first treated as a coward for having "Hidden in London"? I should like to refer any remaining viewers of this video to his book "Flames in the Sky" Incidentally, his book "Le Grand Cirque" in the original French is around 50-60% thicker than the Eng translation: in it he dwells much more on his mental and psychological conditions, and the emotions in his thoughts. Being British (hooray??) I naturally prefer the more bread-and-butter Eng version.
Hi, Just a tiny correction, the motif on the tail of Clostermann's Tempest was a Cockatrice, not a Griffin (nor indeed a Griffon,) as the official badge of 3 Squadron was a Cockatrice on a monolith. Doesn't really matter though.
From what I gathered, as a fan of P.C. since childhood, is that Clostermann attended MIT as engineer ... and never stopped studying the enemy's planes, flying abilities and avionics, which got him to be very aware of the planes he was facing during the entire conflict. He continued studying the details of war, and as to his reputation, never bowed down to propaganda : he mocked the US approach of the "Private Ryan" movie, stating that the UK had lost so many more pilots, no other than British forces should be praised for resisting , fighting and winning WW2 on the western front. He also reminded everyone that the D-Day moment was a western point of view heroic moment, Russia having to face 50 armored divisions when the allied had 5 to face in Normandy.
He was also very likeable and unpretentious, judging from the French interviews I saw. He pointed out that the Spitifire out-turning the FW-190A or the Me-109G, below 280 knots, at speeds where turning rapidly slowed things down to around a 200 knots, was "a good joke"... And I believe him, as the Russians and the top Spitfire ace, Johnny Johnson, said the exact same things in different words. Clostermann called the Spitfire's turn performance "a die hard legend", but still liked the aircraft, as do I, but for the right reasons: It's climb and dive rate... The Spitfire could stall itself in full control, wings rumbling, and briefly point the nose across to a smaller circle, but it still made the wider circle, and such brief snapshots were not often effective. It was a sound, very hard climbing aircraft, but of limited maneuverability.
First read the Big Show when at school in 1957 or 1958.What a stroke of luck to find this wonderful book in my desk.I've lost count of how many times I've read it since.I would recommend it to anyone interested in the 2nd world war.
Did you see the movie ? A good one. It's in french on TH-cam, but I don't know for english.
@@gillesguillaumin6603 Thanks.I haven’t seen the movie.I’m worried that films are rarely as good as the book but I’ll have to give this one a try.
@@jacklambert3117 c'est un vieux film, different de maintenant.
Pierre Clostermann, le héros de ma jeunesse, j'ai eu la chance de correspondre avec lui lorsque j'étais un jeune officier... d'infanterie. J'ai lu et relu tous ces livres. Respect. 👍👍👍💞💞💞🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
33 confirmed victories and finished the war as a wing commander 3rd TAF - Excellent book
I've read both his books. Great pilot (and writer)
He named his tempest “Le Grand Charles” to honor Charles de Gaulle not a ww1 pilot
There is a big mistake on the count of victories : the RAF confirmed 23 of his victories by the end of WWII, which is also the number he always claimed. After the end of the war, the French Air Force confirmed a few more victories, bringing the total count to 33.
The 33 'kills' included 10 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
Pierre Clostermann has acknowledged this.
/JD
His sqn mates doubted a number of his claims as he often wandered off on his own. A true politician / story teller.
I had also the record of the number of missions in RAF, with 3 tours of duty and 432 missions.
Much respect. Lest we forget.
I've read The Big Show at least 6 times. Incredible book!
+Toka Reva It is indeed.
So have I.
:)
Every pilots had two scores, a confirmed one and a one wich was not.
BRAVO! Good work maybe warthunder will be interested in this.
They are! The Tempest Mk V has a skin called 'Le Grand Charles' which is his plane
Still got this book👍
Sir, thank you for this video. Isn't it true that:
1 - He retained his French Armée de l'Air rank of Sous-Lieutenant (Sub-Lt)?
2 - When he returned to post-WW2 France he was at first treated as a coward for having "Hidden in London"?
I should like to refer any remaining viewers of this video to his book "Flames in the Sky"
Incidentally, his book "Le Grand Cirque" in the original French is around 50-60% thicker than the Eng translation: in it he dwells much more on his mental and psychological conditions, and the emotions in his thoughts. Being British (hooray??) I naturally prefer the more bread-and-butter Eng version.
Thanks for the info according to another you tube channel he only had victories in the tempest.
He scored his first two victories on 27 July 1943, destroying two Focke-Wulf Fw 190s over France flying a Spitfire.
Yet again, another superb photo!
Also I have a question: would you consider joining fans for games of war thunder?
Closterman is a Alsacian men
Hi,
Just a tiny correction, the motif on the tail of Clostermann's Tempest was a Cockatrice, not a Griffin (nor indeed a Griffon,) as the official badge of 3 Squadron was a Cockatrice on a monolith. Doesn't really matter though.
RoyalChairForce Thanks for that - interesting.
He is Brazilian
no
@@peletsoivre9110 yes
@@Lucas_1x explain
@@peletsoivre9110 He was born in Curitiba, Brazil. It's simple
@@Lucas_1x He was born from two french parents.
He never obtained brazilian citizenship.
Jus soli wasn't a thing in Brasil before 1988.
His attitude, towards the British when the Falkland war raged, was terrible!
Exactly. He was a false hero.