All these guys were human, just like us. But unlike most of us (I speak for myself) they were also heroes. As Bomber Harris said, taking their place in the Drinking Hall of Valhallah with the greatest warriors of the past. The nameless Viking who took on the entire English army at Stamford Bridge in 1066, for example.
They had the same failings as ordinary folk, but they found themselves in situations where they could show some phenomenal characteristics and they did. How many people, in Gibson's position, would have done what he did to earn his VC?
I actually prefer to hear of their human weaknesses, even if they were pretty unpleasant people in some ways, because I prefer my Heroes to be flawed humans, like Achilles, and not Gods.
And one other thing: Clostermann could write! Just remembering his description of his escape from the FW190's over the Channel in a 'clipped, cropped and clapped' Spit V, or his high-altitude kill over Scapa makes my palms sweat.
RIP a brave, if all too human, hero.
Last edited by Footless Halls; 28th Mar 2006 at 18:55.
Reason: spelling