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空戦 (文庫版航空戦史シリーズ
Paperback Bunko
About the author
Pierre Clostermann
40 books12 followersPierre-Henri Clostermann DSO, DFC & Bar was a World War II French ace fighter pilot.
During the conflict he achieved 33 air-to-air combat victories, earning the accolade "France's First Fighter" from General Charles de Gaulle. His wartime memoir, The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) became a notable bestseller. After the war, he worked as an engineer and was the youngest Member of France's Parliament.
In 1951, Clostermann authored an account of his wartime experiences entitled Le Grand Cirque (published in English as The Big Show). One of the first post-war fighter pilot memoirs, its various editions have sold over two and a half million copies. William Faulkner stated that "The Big Show" was one of the finest aviation books to come out of World War II. The book was reprinted, in expanded form, in both paperback and hardcover editions in 2004.
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 Renault.
He served eight terms as a député (member of parliament) in the French National Assembly between 1946 and 1969.
He re-enlisted in the French Air Force in 1956–57 to fly ground-attack missions during the Algerian War. He subsequently published a novel based on his experiences there, entitled Leo 25 Airborne.
Clostermann died on 22 March 2006 at his home at Montesquieu-des-Albères, in the French Pyrenees.
During the conflict he achieved 33 air-to-air combat victories, earning the accolade "France's First Fighter" from General Charles de Gaulle. His wartime memoir, The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) became a notable bestseller. After the war, he worked as an engineer and was the youngest Member of France's Parliament.
In 1951, Clostermann authored an account of his wartime experiences entitled Le Grand Cirque (published in English as The Big Show). One of the first post-war fighter pilot memoirs, its various editions have sold over two and a half million copies. William Faulkner stated that "The Big Show" was one of the finest aviation books to come out of World War II. The book was reprinted, in expanded form, in both paperback and hardcover editions in 2004.
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 Renault.
He served eight terms as a député (member of parliament) in the French National Assembly between 1946 and 1969.
He re-enlisted in the French Air Force in 1956–57 to fly ground-attack missions during the Algerian War. He subsequently published a novel based on his experiences there, entitled Leo 25 Airborne.
Clostermann died on 22 March 2006 at his home at Montesquieu-des-Albères, in the French Pyrenees.
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