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"Who Killed Michael Wittman?"

Discussion in 'Western Europe 1943 - 1945' started by 14CavM60A1, Jan 3, 2011.

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  1. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Just reading "Sherman Firefly vs Tiger Normandy 1944 " by Stephen A Hart

    " the Firefly´s major drawback was that a blinding flash,which often threw up a cloud of fumes, emanated from the muzzle brake when the gun was fired. A similar flash, combined with powerful back-blast, also filled the turret."

    I´d think the crew that got Wittman never saw it??...
     
  2. Gromit801

    Gromit801 Member

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    This debate SOOOOO reminds me of who got von Richthofen.
     
  3. albowie

    albowie New Member

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    Brian Davis wrotye an excellent book "No Holding Back" which has a whole appendix devoted to this particular incident. After reading it and other detailed expalnation of the battle what is known is that five Tigers were destroyed. 1 NY whom Ekins belonged to was on higher ground to the front right of the advaning Tigers and engaged three for three kills. Radley Walters had a Sqn on the Tigers left flank about 200m from where Wittmans tank was destroyed. His unit di not have a firefly present. After the battle it was found that wittmans tank had been penetrated downward through the engine deck setting of the ammunition and causiung an explosion which lifted the turret from the hull almost certainly killing the crew.
    It is highly probable that the Canadians got him being the closed but the question of the downward shot needs to be examined as the Canadians were on level ground or even slightly lower than Wittman who was in a field across the road from them.
    As with most allied events it was a team action with the tigers trying to drive a wedge between two armoured regiments in static positions. Like most attacks and counterattacks in Normandy it ended with severe loss to the attacking force.
    What is also known is that no Air to Ground sortie was recorded in that area debunking the standard apologist argument that a Jabo got him. It was a lowly Sherman (or more correctly a bunch of them).

    Al
     

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