18 August 1944, Normandy-France : Controversial Typhoon kill was death of German Tiger tank ace Haupstrumfuhrer Michael Wittmann on Caen-Cintheaux road near village of Gaumesnil. Wittmann is regarded as the top tank ace throughout all wars, with over 300 victories to his credit. Assigned to schwere SS Panzer Abteilung 101 (heavy tank battalion 101) of 1st SS Panzer Division, Wittmann and his tanks desperately held off British armor thrusts attempting to close northern Falaise Pocket pincer, along with 2nd Panzer Division and 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, (2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich held off Americans at southern pincer, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsburg launched counter-attacks at pocket center). Wittmann and his entire Tiger 007 tank crew was killed on that day and buried on-the-spot in unmarked graves, their remains were discovered in 1983 and re-interned at La Cambe German military cemetery in Normandy. La Cambe cemetery - www.speicherindustries.com/France/Normandie/LaCambe/LaCambe.html

Conflicting stories of Wittmann's demise persist to this day, credit for this kill includes : 1) 1st Polish Armored Division, 2) 4th Canadian Armored Division, 3) 33rd British Independent Armored Brigade, 4) Allied aerial bombing, 5) Typhoon rocket fire... so take your pick. Michael Wittmann (April 22, 1914 - August 8, 1944) - www.achtungpanzer.com/gen3.htm

Killed-by-Typhoon story was supported by French civilian Serge Varin which inspected wreckage of Tiger 007 in 1945 and noted a large hole penetrating the rear engine deck. Thus he concluded the tank was hit by rocket-firing aircraft (most likely a Typhoon), its ordnance penetrated engine deck, igniting internal fuel stores, and setting off secondary explosions of Tiger's ammunition, instantly killing Wittmann and his entire crew, resulting explosion also blew off gun turret assembly.

Rollover : 13 June 1944, height of Wittmann's career was his audacious counter-attack against British armored forces at Villers Borcage, west of Caen. His success disrupted entire British offensive in that sector and forced its rescheduling. After this battle, photo showing relaxed Wittman in center and Panzerkommandeuren of his unit. (left to right) Hans Hoflinger, Georg Lotzsch, Karlheinz Warmbrunn, Bobby Woll. With exception of Wittmann wearing his Schwarz Panzer Jacke (black Panzer jacket), all other crewmen wore Waffen-SS manufactured Flecktarn camouflage uniforms. Flecktarn - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flecktarn