Encounter Report - 1115 - 24 May, 1944
Elberswalde, Germany

    Just as the squadron made rendezvous with the bombers at about 28,000 feet 30 plus silver Me 109s bounced the squadron. We pulled up to about 30,000 feet. I was leading Red Flight and everyone flew into a defensive circle. I was in a tight turn to the right to keep enemy aircraft from firing at me and during this time I fired a short burst at a Me 109 from 500 yards at 60° while indicating about 250 m.p.h. I observed strikes on this plane. I had to turn left immediately and as I straightened out I saw a Me 109 at 1 o' clock coming almost head on slightly to the right. I tried to avoid hitting him but his plane crashed into my right wing and tore up the outer 3 or 4 feet of my wing. I was thrown into a slight spin, recovered and joined a box of bombers. The plane I fired at and the plane that crashed into my wing were reported as going down in flames.

Claims: 2 Me 109s destroyed

Ammunition expended: 113 rounds 50cal., 20 rounds 20mm.

Jack M. Ilfrey, Capt., Air Corps

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    At 1115 2 Me109s were seen going down in flames just after we were bounced by 30 plus Me 109s. It is believed that one was hit by fire from Red Leader (Capt. Ilfrey) and the other crashed into his plane. Both planes were destroyed. The 361st. Fighter Group also confirmed the fact that one of these Me 109s went down in flames.

Delynn Anderson, Maj., Air Corps (White Leader)
William W. Smith, Capt., Air Corps (White 3)
Earl O. Smith, 1st. Lt., Air Corps (Yellow 2)

My favorite photograph of Jack Ilfrey, it appears to have been taken after he had been demoted down to 2nd. Lt. (note the single bar on his collar,) which was the result of the celebrations for being promoted to Major getting out of hand.

    He was quickly promoted back up to Captain and re-attained the rank of Major before leaving the service in December, 1945.

(Photograph Courtesy of Danny Morris)

    Jack Ilfrey, was special in all he did, an unusual and great Commander. His pilots fell over themselves to fly with him. All his life he always had time for all he met. He ran a happy outfit. I was privileged to have flown with him many times. I was with him over Hamburg on May 24, '44 when he nailed two Me-109s, flew the before daylight and after dark patrols with him during the D-day operations, on June 13, '44, I was behind him when he was nailed by a flak-trap near Angers, beside him when he bailed out, and over him when he hit the ground, and enjoyed many 20th Fighter Group reunions through the years, for which he had a large responsibility. Jack, we will miss you!

-- Capt. Art Heiden, 79th Fighter Squadron, November, 2004

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