(1 Fw190 destroyed)

 

I was leading the sqdn on an Armed Recce and sweep to the Paderborn area and when near Munster was informed that there were Me 109’s and Spits in the Rheine area. We approached Rheine from the South and swept round to the North of the A/F. When approximately 5 miles N.W. my No 2 reported 4 a/c at 10 o’clock to us and about 1 mile away flying N.W. and then turning port. I brought the sqdn into line astern and followed them in the turn identifying the a/c as FW 190’s.

The huns spotted us and jettisoned their L.R. tanks while still in their climbing turn to port. We did likewise and after a few seconds spent in jockeying for position, the e/a attempted to break onto our tails, the leading hun firing at Black 4 at the rear of our formation. I gave the order to break and pulling hard to port fired 2 – 1 sec bursts 20° at the rear E/A but saw no strikes. A general dogfight followed and I dived onto the tail of an e/a below me who began to weave and turned to port. I fired one 1 sec. and one 2 sec burst 10° off from 200 yds observing strikes on the cockpit and engine which was followed by brown smoke and small flames issuing from the cowling. The pilot jettisoned his hood and immediately there was a rush of flames into the cockpit. The e/a dived to port and the pilot baled out.

While orbiting I saw the a/c crash approximately 5 miles North of Rheine A/F in the West side of the Dortmund Canal. I then saw another e/a in front of me diving down to the N.E. I followed gaining rapidly but saw a Tempest already engaging it and the hun dive straight into the ground, crashing on the S.W. edge of Plantlunne A/F. The pilot of this Tempest turned out to be my No 2 W/O Dopson. My cine-camera was exposed.

 

I claim 1 FW190 destroyed.

 

F/L R.W.A. MacKichen