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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:42 pm
by Karl Heidenreich
War is Hell.

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:56 pm
by RF
Dave Saxton wrote: It was a brutal unofficial policy, but a necessary policy to win and shorten the war.
But at a risk. It invites possible retaliation against Allied airmen already held prisoner, or Allied aircrews baling out over enemy held territory. Indeed some aircrews were lynched - by the civilians subjected to their bombing.

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:12 pm
by paul.mercer
Gentlemen,
I believe that in Adolf Gallands book 'The First and the Last' he says that Goring actaully asked him what he thought about shooting at parachuting pilots and Galand said he would not do it or allow it. Apparently Goring replied that he was glad that Galland felt that way. It appears that generally it was regarded as 'not the done thing by' both sides.

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:17 pm
by Bgile
A well known German ace wrote in his autobiography of hanging from his chute as a Mustang approached and wondering whether he would be shot, but apparently the guy just wanted a close look at his opponent.

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:14 am
by RF
......or give him a scare....

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:28 pm
by lwd
That was Eric Hartman see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann
... While he was hanging in his parachute, the P-51s circled above him, and Hartmann wondered if they would take this opportunity to kill him. One of the P-51Bs flown by Lt. Robert J. Goebel of the 308th Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, broke away and headed straight for him. Goebel was making a camera pass to record the bailout and banked away from him only at the last moment, waving at Hartmann as he went by. ...