The Last Dogfight

Some moments in history defy expectations. If you were to be asked what the last dogfight over Germany consisted of in WWII, you'd probably think of Spitfires shooting down ME109's and all manner of ultra high speed, high horsepower aerial mastery.

Horsepower, however was in the 65hp range and speed was probably about the same if not less than the vehicles on the ground fleeing what was left of the Reich. The 65hp was all that the Piper Cub reconnaissance aircraft, aboard which were Lt. Duane Francies and observer Lt. William Martin.

Spotting a Fieseler Storch beneath them the Americans decided that they should put a stop to whatever the aircraft was up to. This is a bit tricky as the Cub doesn't have any guns. So what they did was open the window and then fired with their pistols. It transpired they were also very good shots as the Storch was sufficiently damaged that the pilot entered a spin and crash landed in a field.

Unlike Mustangs and Spitfires where kills are confirmed from a distance, in this case the Cub, which is capable of landing just about anywhere, and our American heroes jumped out to promptly arrest the dazed and confused German. For the first time in some years our friends Sam (playing the part of the dazed, hapless German) will once again be shot down and history revived. The all American hero (our friend Ben) will then effect the arrest and thus one of the oddest moments of WWII will once again be relived.