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More on the P-40E
James `Stocky` Edwards was a RCAF Ace with 20 1/2 kills, almost all in P-40`s. (Kittyhawks)
Picture of Edwards:
http://www.accessweb.com/users/mconstab/edwards2.jpgPicture of RAF Kittyhawks:
http://www.accessweb.com/users/mconstab/kittyhawkis.jpgHere are some descriptions of his fights versus 109`s in a Kittyhawk:
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On June 17, Jim Edwards made a definite impact on the capabilities of the Luftwaffe at this time by killing one of their top aces. F/L Wally Conrad of 274 Sqdn was returning from a "delousing" sweep of the Tobruk area when he spotted four 109s high above his flight of four Hurricanes. He called a break and headed up for the Germans. He discovered too late that the rest of his flight had not heard his call and that he was on his own. Too late to turn back, the Messerschmitts spotted him and headed his way. They were lead by the German experten Oberleutant Otto Schultz now with 50 confirmed kills. He had developed the reputation of being a dare-devil and a remorseless fighter who insisted on strafing his downed opponents. He earned the nickname "ein-zwei-drei-Otto" for his shooting abilities.
At this time Edwards was escorting Boston bombers southeast of Tobruk. Their entire formation was bounced by a large number of Messerschmitts and had been broken up. Their only defensive move was to turn quickly and often to make themselves more difficult targets. One of his attackers overshot him in a dive. He quickly lined up his sights and gave the German a long burst that caused an explosion in the engine. The 109 dropped to the desert floor. Edwards didn't see it, he had turned to the west and found himself alone and out of the fight. He dived for the deck at full throttle and turned towards his base.
Meanwhile, Otto Schultz attacked Wally Conrad wounding him and putting his engine out of commission. Wally crash landed and leapt out of his dead Hurricane when Schultz made his first strafing run, then soared back up to come around for another. At this time Edwards spotted Schultz coming up from his dive with his three squadron mates high above watching the fun. He was about half a mile away and angled his Kittyhawk slightly to intercept the Messerschmitt. Schultz came out of his second dive about 300 yds. in front of Edwards at a angle of 60 degrees. Eddie gave Schultz's 109 a long burst from his machine guns, hitting it solidly in the fuselage. The Messerschmitt thundered into the ground killing the German ace immediately. Edwards was gone as quickly as he had appeared on the scene, but not before Conrad got a look at the call letters of his Kittyhawk. Upon landing back at Gambut 2 Eddie didn't claim the kill of Schultz's Me-109 as he hadn't seen Conrad or his Hurricane and knew that two unsubstantiated claims from a new pilot would not be accepted. He claimed only "one probable Me-109 at low level", and so got the Squadron's revenge for the loss of many pilots. The loss of Otto Schultz was a severe blow to JG-27, he could not easily be replaced with another pilot so experienced.
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Picture of Otto Schultz:
http://www.accessweb.com/users/mconstab/ottoschultz.jpgAnother account which talks about the superior turn of the P-40:
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Intelligence reported a large number of 109s at a nearby field, with a little speed and luck they could catch them on the ground. The WingCo, Hanbury, lead them into a low level attack formation. At eight miles from the enemy airfield they started to gain altitude when they flew right over a Panzer group. Quickly the ever-present Flak guns opened up at them, albeit inaccurately. They did however notify the airfield. Eddie and the others could see they were in for a rough time as Me-109s could be seen rising quickly off of the airfield.
The WingCo attacked a 109 just getting off the ground, Eddie was lining up his section for a ground attack when he spotted 109s coming at them from in-front and behind. He ordered a tight rising turn in order to fight off the attacking 109s, as they couldn't turn with the Kittyhawks. There were so many 109s in the air that they kept spoiling each others attacks. Eddie got one in his sights and knocked a few pieces off before it pulled away. He kept pulling around until he was on the tail of a 109 shooting at his wingman. But now, in typical Kittyhawk fashion, his guns packed up. Fortunately the German pilot didn't know that. He panicked and pulled out of his turn so violently that he lost control and thundered into the ground at full throttle. As so often happened in dogfights the sky was suddenly empty. Eddie dived to ground level and got out of the area. He couldn't raise anyone on the RT so he headed in a general direction back to base, twisting and turning to throw off any pursuing 109s. He was just getting comfortable with his escape when he spotted a 109 about 600 yds. behind him. The enemy closed the gap to 350 yds. when he began firing at long range. Eddie could see dust flying up behind and to the left of his plane. Some bullets ricocheted into the underside of his wing. He had to start a turning duel, except that he had no guns. He turned inside the 109 and avoided his shots. He would straighten out and fly east while the 109 pilot re-arranged his aircraft for another attack. Eddie waited until the 109 was in range before he turned hard again, went around and straightened out. Eventually the German began firing at long range and started to hit the Kittyhawk. Eddie pulled around and got onto the tail of the German but his guns were still useless, and now the German knew it. But they were getting far east, and the German had to be low on ammo and fuel. Eddie rolled out and got right down on the deck, the German made a last, half-hearted attack and pulled off to fly home. Eddie barely made it to the edge of the LG when his engine cut out and he dropped down rolling to a stop, out of fuel. The tally for each side in the battle was two apiece. Eddie was awarded another victory, although won at a lot of effort.
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