Ok guys, my 3 cents:
1. Lucky Shot? I do not believe this. Lucky shot is when I go to the range and hit the target dead center. “Lucky shot” undermines the skill and experience the guys fighting against MvR had. They were seasoned allied servicemen, they deliberately shot at MvR, and they got him. Of course, this was certainly an unlucky shot for MvR.
2. MvR uttering some words after his landing? IMO this is hard to believe. Have you seen the photos of MvR’s corpse? He hit his head very, very, hard upon crash landing. He broke his jaw, his nose, and lost several teeth. Had he not been already dead, this would’ve certainly killed him, or at the very least, rendered him unconscious. I believe he did not say a word, but that is my opinion based on the injuries I see on the pictures.
Indeed, as Alex said, one should not believe in everything that has been said or written, even by people who might have witnessed the event. The passage of time, and the story being told over and over, sometimes romanticized and/or twisted, could confuse all but the very best of an eyewitness’ memory.
The notion that MvR landed alive and then was executed is complete nonsense IMO.
They buried him with full honors!
3. McCudden. I confess that I have not read much about him, nor have I read
HITEB, but it is very hard for me to believe that such an experienced and fine pilot could have made a novice mistake like that.
George