Best Tank Ace

Hi Merlin,

could you give us a brief outline of George Dring's career?

 

George Dring.MM, and Bar.

Certainly Ricky, always pleased to post facts instead of hear-say.

Sergent. George 'Killer' Dring.
"Black smiths son whose eye for country made him one of the Sherwood Rangers' finest tank commanders.
George Dring enlisted in the Sherwood Rangers as a farrier in 1935, when the regiment was still mounted.
In 1943 as the regiment advanced across a wadi near the Mareth Line
in Tunisia George realised that the right hand squadron was being held up by a fortified position to the south. He move to position where he could control and direct fire, this brought down fire on his tank but he succeeded
in directing to such effect that a 50mm gun was knocked out and an infantry position destroyed.
As a troop sergent in thr Recce Sqd. after the Alamein breakout he developed the habit of leaving his tank and taking a 'shufti' over the crest of hills.
He was always in the fore front of action, one close shave came when a shell went straight through his turret and wounded him. As he made his way back to the medical officer, his colonel shook his fist at him for taking risks and received a 'V' sign in response; Dring was back in action in half an hour.
When the Sherwood Rangers landed in Normandy in 1944 they were equiped
with shermans (Georges tank name 'Achilles' had turned into 'Akilla')
They knocked out a panther during 'Epsom', then with his 17-pounder he took out three more. altogether a total of at least thirteen, including two Tigers.
More history of George Dring can be found in 'Monty's Marauders' by Patric Delaforce.
He was seriously wounded on the Siegfried Line, although considered completely without fear by his regiment, he was badly affected by his experiences and for years refused to talk of his army career or watch a war film. he died at the age of 85 just a few years ago.
So, just a few words about a remarkable and modest man, a typical 'cavalry' man, a hero who certainly would never wanted to be refered to as an 'Ace'.

 

Thanks Merlin, it is good to see this kind of input - stories like this get lost if nobody records them.

Was George Dring in a Sherman Firefly after Normandy?

 

george Dring

Yes, he was a Firefly commander.
Must clarify that the thirteen tanks knocked out were by the Rangers on the one day in Epsom., against this 'C'Sqd. lost two shermans with four casualties.George was credited with four of the enemy tanks.George was born in Fulbeck, Lincolnshire, son of the village blacksmith.
Became a fearless horseman, point to points, hunting and showing the impulsive nature which characterised his way of handling a tank.
Added to the aforementioned thirteen panzer Mk1v's knocked out , a Tiger, a Panther and an assault gun were captured intact.
Not bad for one day!

 

Question! Do Wittman kills include the ones in Stug and Tiger and other tanks, or just the kills made in the Tiger? (Anyway, Tiger is synonym with Wittman)

 

Selesque:
I interpret that total to represent all kills, both in Tiger Is and his Stug III.

You would probably enjoy the book:
"Tiger Ace"-- The life story of Panzer Commander Michael Wittman
By Gary L. Simpson

A very good read.

Tim

 

Michael Wittman always turned the whole tank in enemy's direction not only the gun.Gun moving was too slow,so invented this,and that's y he's the best of the best.How did he died?Well,that's another story.

 

there are others tank aces with more kills than witmann