That fits with his letter to Brian Reid where he takes credit for a Jagdpanzer IV coming up the N158 towards his defensive position just to the west of the N158, behind a stone wall, in Gaumesnil. His squadron consisted of eight Shermans at that point, two of which were Fireflies.
He recalled that the attack moved as a group with five Tigers leading, well spaced, with four at the front and the fifth leading a number of PzKpfw IVs, Jagdpanzers and half-tracks. One of the Tigers was running close beside the highway, followed by two Jagdpanzers advancing on the highway itself. Rad advised that he was hollering on the squadron net to "hold off, hold off" until they got reasonably close. His squadron opened fire at approximately 500 yards. The Tiger closest to the road was knocked out and Rad's gunner accounted for a Jagdpanzer on the N158 itself. Tiger 007, as we know now, was the Tiger closest to the N158 and it's hulk was situated virtually directly across from Rad's position.
He further advised that in addition to his squadron there were two Fireflies of 'B' Sqn slightly further north, in the area of La Jalousie, which also engaged the advancing Tigers.
On the British side, we know that 'A' Sqn 1NY were in defensive position in an orchard some 800 yards to the east of the advancing Tigers but what is usually not factored into the equation was that 'B' Sqn 144 RAC was to the north, just east of Pt 122, which was the objective of the German counterattack. Therefore, the Germans unknowingly moved straight into a trap composed of 'A' Sqn and two Fireflies of 'B' Sqn SFR on the west, 'A' Sqn 1NY to the east and 'B' Sqn 144 RAC to the north.
As for 1. Dywizji Pancernej, it wasn't near the Cintheaux area as it was preparing to attack south, on the east side of St. Aignan at 1355 hrs, approximately an hour after Wittmann's demise.
There is no doubt that the evidence supports the fact that 'A' Sqn 1NY knocked out three Tigers, as is laid out in their War Diary, but the evidence presented by Reid supports the conclusion that 'A' Sqn SFR accounted for a fourth Tiger, and that was Wittmann's.
Rad's letter is quoted in one of Reid's appendixes titled: "Who Killed Michael Wittmann", in his book No Holding Back. Interesting reading and I'm just finishing the book now.
Cheers,
Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
|