Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Armed conflicts in the history of humanity from the ancient times to the 20th Century.
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Karl Heidenreich
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post by Karl Heidenreich »

War is Hell.
An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
Sir Winston Churchill
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RF
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post 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.
''Give me a Ping and one Ping only'' - Sean Connery.
paul.mercer
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post 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.
Bgile
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post 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.
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RF
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post by RF »

......or give him a scare....
''Give me a Ping and one Ping only'' - Sean Connery.
lwd
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Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

Post 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. ...
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