12 APRIL 1997, Page 28

Mistaken identity

Sir: I enjoyed reading Frederick Forsyth's article, 'Impatient with The English Patient' (29 March).

He might also have drawn attention to the fact that in October 1942 the Hungari- an Count Almasy would have been an enemy civilian as far as the British were concerned.

Perhaps this is why Almasy failed to take evasive action while under fire from the lonely German machine-gunner — he rea- soned that if he continued to fly straight and level his Afrika Korps ally would be forced to conclude that this strange aircraft was 'one of ours'!

Peter Knightley

Holmdene, Burghfield Common, Berkshire