








Clostermanne scored his first two victories on 27-07-1943, destroying two Focke Wulf Fw 190’s over France. In October 1943, Clostermann was commissioned and assigned to No 602 Squadron RAF, nickname “Glasgow’s Own” under command of of Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum
remaining with the unit for the next ten months. George Wellum surviverd the war and died on 12-08-1952 aged 36 from a cerebral thrombosis. At his own request he was buried at sea off Pemba, his funeral procession being attended by about a thousand people.
Clostermann flew a variety of missions including fighter sweeps, bomber escorts, high-altitude interdiction over the Royal Navy’s Scapa Flow’ base, and strafing or dive-bombing attacks on V-1 launch sites on the French coast. Clostermann served through D-Day and was one of the first Free French pilots to land on French soil, at temporary airstrip B-11, near Longues sur Mer, Normandy on 18-06-1944, touching French soil for the first time in more than four years. Clostermann was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
, shortly afterwards, after which he was reassigned to French Air Force Headquarters. In December 1944, Clostermann returned to the front line, on secondment to the RAF as a supernumerary Flight Lieutenant. Clostermann joined No 274 RAF Squadron
flying the new Hawker Tempest Mk V. In an aircraft which he dubbed Le Grand Charles, Clostermann flew an intensive and highly successful round of fighter sweeps, airfield attacks, “rat scramble” interceptions of Messerschmitt jet fighters, and rail interdiction missions over northern Germany over the next two months. In March 1945, Clostermann briefly served with No. 56 Squadron
before a transfer to No. 3 Squadron. On 24-03-1945, he was wounded in the leg by German flak and after belly-landing his badly damaged aircraft, he was hospitalized for one week. From April 8, he was commander of A Flight, No 3 Squadron RAF.
Clostermann was awarded a Bar to his DFC for his successful tour of duty. He had to bail out for the first time on 12-05-1945, when during a victory fly past, a Tempest collided with his aircraft, and as a result of this horrific collision the four planes of his flight went down, with three pilots dying. Clostermann’s parachute opened just a few yards above ground. Clostermann continued operations with No. 122 Wing RAF, nickname “Tempest Wing”
until he left the military altogether on 27-07-1945, rank Wing Commander. In his 432 sorties, Clostermann was credited officially with 23 victories, 19 solo, 14 shared, most of them against fighters and five “probable’s”, with eight more “damaged”. He also claimed 225 motor vehicles destroyed, 72 locomotives, five tanks and two E Boats, fast torpedo boats. After the war, Clostermann continued his career as an engineer, participating in the creation of Reims Aviation, supporting the Max Holste Broussard prototype
, acting as a representative for Cessna, and working for Renauld. In parallel, Clostermann had a successful political career, serving eight terms as a député, Member of Parliament, in the French National Assembly between 1946 and 1969. He also briefly re-enlisted in the Armée de l’Air in 1956–57 to fly ground attack missions during the Algerian War. He subsequently wrote a novel based on his experiences there, entitled “Leo 25 Airborne”
. During the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and the UK, Clostermann apparently praised Argentine pilots for their courage, perhaps as a result of personal ties formed while Argentine Air Force pilots were being trained in France in the 1970s. As a result of this perceived “betrayal” of the RAF
, Clostermann attracted hostility from parts of the English press. He also attracted controversy in France for his vehement anti-war stance in the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War. Clostermann was also a sporting fisherman of international repute.
Death and burial ground of Clostermann, Pierre Henri””Clo Clo”.












Leave a Reply