(1 Fw 190 destoyed)

 

 

I was leading 80, 274 & 486 Squadrons on a sweep in the Rheine-Quackenbrück area, when bandits were reported high in the Rheine area. Climbing through cloud at about 8,000 ft, I saw 6 or 8 A/C making vapour trails at approx. 15,000 ft. I was flying with No. 80 Squadron, so climbing up we eventually made contact at about 13,000 ft as the E/A were diving down on other Tempests. I picked out a long-nosed FW 190 which, after several manoeuvres, dived vertically down to 3,000 ft just below a 5/10 layer of cumulus cloud. I then found myself alone with this 190, over open country, so we proceeded to have a good uninterrupted dogfight.

 

For over five minutes I tried to position myself for a reasonable shot at him, but he proved to be very clueful opponent. We were both leaving almost continuous wing-tip trails. I found that with full revs and boost, I could gain slowly on him in about 3 complete turns, but when almost ready to open fire at him, he would throttle back suddenly and turn sharply, causing me to over-shoot. These tactics were to extent successful and he actually took one wild shot at me on one occasion, but the deflection was full and he must have been almost stalled at the time so I was not unduly worried. After each of these overshoots, I found myself back were I started, and so another vicious turning circle developed. Once or twice he attempted to dive away on the deck, climbing up again when I began gaining on him, and evev went up into cloud which was not sufficient cover for him.

 

Eventually two Tempests of 274 Sqdn. arrived on the scene, which distracted the attention of the Hun sufficiently for me to get in a 1 1/2 sec. burst with 30-degree deflection from approx. 200 yds. On lowering my nose I saw that a fire had started right in the cockpit. The fire grew, developed into a huge sheet of flame and the E/A crashed in a mushroom of smoke and flame N. of Rheine.

 

This was witnessed by two pilots of 274 Sqdn. Cine camera was used,

 

Claim: 1 Fw 190 destroyed.

 

 

 

S/L E.D. Mackie