(1 Bf 109 and 1 Fw 190 destroyed)

 

I was flying Red 1 on a sweep and Armed Recce to the Paderborn area. I had finished an attack on a loco near Eikelon and climbing up with my section when I saw an aircraft near the deck. I was crossing the railway line near the loco we had just beaten up and started to climb up behind Red 3. I called up and gave a warning and continued a climbing turn to Port. The aircraft closed in to approx 800 yards behind Red 3 and I recognized it as an Me.109. I told Red 3 to break. He did so going to Starboard which enabled me to roll on to the E/A. I closed the range and turned with him until I was approx 200 yards behind. The E/A stopped following Red 3 and decreased his rate of turn. I fired a one-second burst from 200 yds. 15° off and observed strikes on the mainplanes and his starboard radiator. He immediately streamed glycol and his engine stopped. I overshot him and when I had positioned myself for another attack the E/A had glided down to about 300 ft as if to make a forced landing. I made a fast attack from dead astern and observed strikes. I pulled up sharply and rolled over. I saw the E/A just as he passed over a small patch of woods, - where he seemed to stall and then flicked on his back and went straight in from about 150 – 200 ft.

 

I claim 1 Me 109 destroyed.

 

We continued, and I was covering Blue section as they went down on a loco just S.W. of Rheda. After their attack I saw them climb away to Port – and at the same time I saw an aircraft heading along the railway track going towards Rheda and I immediately gave chase. The aircraft was right on the deck and I followed it, but still not close enough to identify it. We passed directly over Rheda and I then closed near enough to identify it as a FW.190. I overhauled the hun quite rapidly and when I was about 800 – 600 yards he did a sharp break to Starboard. I couldn’t hold him in this and passed about 100 yards behind. I throttled right back and continued turning. This went on for about a turn and a half and just as it looked as though I would be able to turn inside him he straightened out and started to climb up, turning slightly to Port. I was able to close nicely and fired a one-second burst from 200 yards and about 20° off. I didn’t see strikes at first and decreased my deflection and fired a long burst. I observed lots of strikes on the mainplanes and fuselage, and the cockpit. A very large piece fell away from the E/A when I was approx 75 yards behind. I pulled up to avoid this and stalled and lost sight of him. I regained control just in time to see the E/A heading straight down from about 1500 ft. He went in like that and blew up.

 

I claim 1 Fw 190 destroyed.

 

F/L D.C. Fairbanks