Guys :

I will be in touch shortly with a German pilot that shot down top scoring Tempest pilot Sqd. Leader Foob Fairbanks on February 28, 1945. Is there any info on Foob and his missions plus his shoot down......book or web-site(s)...? There were two Tempests shot down this date, Foobs by Karl-Georg Genth of 12./JG 26 flying an Fw 190D-9, possibly yellow 15.

thanks all !

E

Obviously, Erich, I am not here to answer. But it will be nice to learn more about it when our experts respond.

__________________
"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Actually Friedrich, Foobs was an American flying with Ssquadron # 274. Foobs being the higest scoring Tempest ace at 11 although he was given a shared 1/2 over a Ju 52, which seems strange but this is what the Allies did.
Sadly he passed away in 1975. I will be in contact with the German pilots son and then from there we can hope to get a first hand account of what happened. I do have a bit of what happened per Luftwaffe side but would like more of both plus some a/c identification if possible. Seems that Foob took on all of III./JG 26 with D-9's against Foob's 6 Tempests.....

E

Squadron Leader David Charles 'Foob' Fairbanks.

US citizen, joined RCAF in '41, did not transfer to USAAF. Served as instructor at 13SFTS until February '43. Sent to UK to complete advanced training, joined 501 Sqn on 12/1/44. In June '44, serving with 501 sqn as flight commander, he 'opened his account' over the Normandy beaches : -
In Spitfire Vb
8/6/44 Bf109 damaged
8/6/44 Bf109

In Tempest V
29/8/44 V1
17/12/44 Bf109
17/12/44 Bf109
17/12/44 Bf109 damaged
4/1/45 Fw190
14/1/45 Bf109
14/1/45 Fw190
23/1/45 Ju52 ( half claim )
23/1/45 Ju88 ( ground strafe )
23/1/45 Ju88 (ground strafe - damaged )
24/1/45 Ju52 ( ground strafe )
11/2/45 Ar234B
14/2/45 Me262 damaged
16/2/45 Bf109
16/2/45 Bf109
22/2/45 Fw190
22/2/45 Fw190
24/2/45 Fw190
28/2/45 Fw190 ( queried - not included in total )

Total : 12 + 1 shared destroyed, 3 damaged, 1 V1, 2 destroyed on ground, 1 damaged on ground, possibly 1 more queried.

Clostermann claimed in his book that Fairbanks was killed in his last action - this obviously was not so. When shot down, he broke his nose on the gunsight during his crashlanding and then had to be rescued from a crowd of angry civilians by a German Flak Officer. Returning from POW camp after the war, he claimed to have shot down one of his attackers on 28/2/45, but this was never officially confirmed - hence the 'queried' total.

Awarded the DFC with 2 Bars, he worked with Avro Canada as a test-pilot post-war.

[ 01 August 2002, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

I've just dug out my copy of 'The Big Show'.

You've probably already got it, Erich..but for others who may be interested, this action is given its own, three-page chapter in the book under the heading 'Tempest v. Focke-Wulf' ( pp 182-184,Chatto & Windus 1951 edn ). Don't expect historical objectivity - this account is written in Clostermann's characteristic, breathless style.

And why not ? This is what makes 'The Big Show' one of WWII's best first-hand airwar 'reads'.

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hmmmmmm thanks Martin ! Foobs did not shoot any D-9 down. Pierre's book is at best bizarre, and in fact both of his books have been known as bogus as to claims and stories. Would like something very concrete if at all possible with no fantasy included.......

E still searching

First posting not based on Clostermann !
The Fw190s claimed on 22/2/45 were reckoned to be from III/JG54 NE of Rheine, that on 24th February unidentified but combat occurred 8m NW of Rheine.

Further information on Fairbanks' squadrons ; with 501 until early August '44 when moved to 274. He was then posted to 3 Squadron in the New Year, returning again to 274 on February 8th as CO.

As I said, Clostermann is a good writer for 'atmosphere' but not very much else ! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01 August 2002, 10:40 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Still going....

I've found two URLs but just cannot get them to transfer - the first has detailed info and pics, the second details of his awards:

http://www.user.tninet.se/~ytm843e/fairbanks.htm
http://www.user.airforce.ca/wwii/ALPHA-FA.html

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or try via Google under '274 Squadron'.....

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

You see? Ignorant Friedrich actually learned something!

Thanks, guys!

__________________
"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Martin :

vielen dank ! I'll check the links this morn....I have found a tidbit or two last night but still not quite enough.

E