Guy Alcala wrote:
Mike Marron wrote:
"Erik Plagen" wrote:
Mike Marron wrote:

"Erik Plagen" wrote:
Mike Marron wrote:

Haven't you heard all the stories of the Luftwaffe strafing downed
allied pilots coming down their chutes

That;s all they were- "stories" or fairy tales!

We never tried to shoot down Crew Members in their chutes!

You are thinking of the Japanese.

Nope, I'm thinking of the Germans. In fact, I've heard Chuck Yeager
himself during an interview describe how the Germans were known
to strafe downed allied airmen descending in their chutes.

snip

There were certainly instances (on both sides) of this happening, and it
was widely believed (again, by both sides) that the other side was just
looking for opportunities to do so, but it was an individual thing, not an
order. It tended to be crews with better reasons to hate, i.e. a pilot
whose family had been killed by bombing, or pilots of some of the occupied
countries (the Poles come to mind). And there were the occasional
bloodthirsty or just plain ruthless types on both sides.


"bloodthirsty or just plain ruthless types" - or the just plain
stupid, who do not realise that in fact it will be his own fellow
aviators who will be killed in the spiral which he has initiated, and
for something they never had anything to do with.


Overall an excellent appraisal Mr Alacala. And applicable not just to
bailed-out aircrew. Similar with "machine-gunned in the water" after
abandoning ship, "took no prisoners", "are killing our PoWs" ,etc. The
rumour is the dangerous since it can get the whole thing started
without anyone ever committing such an act.

Unfortunately, it cannot be undone by reversing the spiral, i.e.
circling back over the recently landed aviator as he gathers his
'chute and dropping a picnic hamper and a bottle of Beaujolais Premier
or similar.