ENCOUNTER REPORT - 1230 - 14 January, 1945
East of WittenbergeI was leading Yellow Flight on bomber escort when we saw 8 Me 109s flying line abreast formation at 29,500 feet, 1,500 feet above us. They were at least five miles away. We dropped tanks and started to gain altitude. The enemy aircraft who had been flying at 90° to us turned left. I turned left and came out right on the tail of the last man on the farther side of the enemy formation. I gave him a 4 second burst, 150 yards, 25° deflection, to dead astern. Observed considerable black and white smoke, pieces fell off the bottom of the aircraft. He snapped over to the left and I to the right and couldn't see what happened to the aircraft. At the time I was firing my speed was near stalling at 130 miles an hour the enemy aircraft must have been going less than this.
I claim 1 Me 109 Destroyed
Ammunition Expended: 582 Rounds .50 cal.
Dale N. Jones, O-827212,
1st. Lt., Air Corps,
20th Fighter Group
CONFIRMATION OF CLAIM
I was flying Yellow 2 when Lt. Jones got ont he tail of an Me 109 at about 29,000 feet. He pulled off to the right after firing at the 109 which rolled to the left and a second later the enemy aircraft exploded in mid air.
Donald E. Smith, O-721542,
2nd. Lt., Air Corps,
20th Fighter Group
