Clive Cussler's uncle ?

Paul Forster · 5 July 2005, 11:13 PM

In one of his non-fiction books (The Sea Hunters), Clive Cussler claims he had an uncle who "shot down fourteen allied aircraft" while flying for the German Air Service in WWI. Anyone know wheather this is true or not ?

duckman · 6 July 2005, 08:09 PM

His biog (on the internet) states that he is the son of a German-born accountant, so its possible.

But given the variability of what defines an "uncle", it could be hard to prove/disprove. Perhaps you should write to him. According to the NUMA site (his underwater exploration "foundation", he takes fan mail at:

Clive Cussler
c/o Pitch Productions
859 Hollywood Way #212
Burbank, California 91505

Good luck

duckman

Paul Forster · 6 July 2005, 11:39 PM

He mentions his father serving in the German Army during the war. I suppose the uncle could have been his mother's brother, assuming she was German also.

rammjaeger · 7 July 2005, 12:46 AM

Paul,

if the victory number (14) is correct then you can find the German candidates here

http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ger...Rows_names=393

but Cussler could be in error.

duckman · 7 July 2005, 07:19 PM

Paul,

His bio says his mother is Anglo-American. The German uncle would definitely be on his fathers side.

And as rammjaeger points out, there are definitely no "Cusslers" with 14 victories, or indeed, listed on the Aerodromes aces list at all.

Paul Forster · 8 July 2005, 11:22 AM

Maybe it was Ernst Kessler from The Great Waldo Pepper !

9 July 2005, 09:06 AM

Ironic you ask the question. Clive Cussler came on this forum a few years ago looking for information about his uncle. He cited the 14 kills and some of the members were able to give him the info as I recall. Seems there may have been a discrepancy as to the exact number, but not as to whether he was an ace.

Cheers

Jeff

Regulus · 9 July 2005, 10:04 AM

Hi,

He did indeed, his uncle is

Robert Heibert, credited with 13 victories here in the Aces part.

Best from Johan