Death of ukn. Luftwaffe Pilot

[Phoenix3107]

I remember when watching "Dogfights" on the History channel, there was an episode where a group of 51's were chasing some 109's down on the deck, and one of the pilots scored some major damage on one of the 109's, forcing the pilot to bail. It was told that when the pilot bailed out, he was so low to the ground, that when he hit the ground, he literally bounced off the ground and back and up over the mustang pilots wing.

Don't remember if they ever reported the pilot's name or squad he was in, but the way he died made me just cringe at how some dogfights turn out.

Thoughts or comments on the subject?

[Zimme83]

I will say its a myth until profen otherwise. (part were pilot bounced over the pony's wing)

[Lusche]

It was told that when the pilot bailed out, he was so low to the ground, that when he hit the ground, he literally bounced off the ground and back and up over the mustang pilots wing.

He fell on a trampoline?


Seriously, on any kind of hard ground a human impacting with great speed will bounce back only like one or two feet or so.

[PR3D4TOR]

I can see it happening if he hit a slope with a lot of horizontal velocity. At the same time the P-51 is pulling out of a dive and is close to the ground. I've seen people get launched 30-40 feet into the air in car crashes.

[icepac]

Predator is correct.

Otherwise, ski jumps wouldn't work.

[Guppy35]

I remember when watching "Dogfights" on the History channel, there was an episode where a group of 51's were chasing some 109's down on the deck, and one of the pilots scored some major damage on one of the 109's, forcing the pilot to bail. It was told that when the pilot bailed out, he was so low to the ground, that when he hit the ground, he literally bounced off the ground and back and up over the mustang pilots wing.

Don't remember if they ever reported the pilot's name or squad he was in, but the way he died made me just cringe at how some dogfights turn out.

Thoughts or comments on the subject?

You are talking about Art Fiedler of the 325th FG.  I don't recall the story including the pilot bouncing over the wing but I do recall the bounce comment.  It was in the course of a long fight on the deck in the mountains.

[FLOOB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWyK2HFAdPA

[Scherf]

Folks on the 12 O'clock High! forum should be able to provide a list of Luftwaffe losses for 26 July '44, generally with reason and location, particularly Matti Salonen, or Andreas Brekken.

Hmm, 109s appear to have been from JG 302:

http://regiowiki.at/wiki/Gro%C3%9Fangriff_der_15._US-Luftflotte_auf_Ost%C3%B6sterreich_am_26._Juli_1944#Verluste_der_deutschen_Luftwaffe

Sadly no name for the fellow lost at Mitterdorf im Mürztal, which might be a possibility.

[guncrasher]

actually if I remember correctly the pilot was in a 109 he bailed out so low that he bounced  once or twice and he felt back into his burning airplane that had crashed.  assuming he was already dead.

it was on the history chanel a couple of years ago.


semp