CHARLES BLAIR
355th Fighter Group 03/02/1944
E. trying to locate the rear Combat Wing of B-24's when we sighted 3 e/a at 23,000' flying N.E., straggling and in poor V. Formation. We were at app. the same level as the e/a. Our flight began a bounce from out of the sun and chased the 109's for about 3-4 minutes closing to about 250 yards. Maj Myers opened fire on the left wing man so I moved over to line myself up on the right wing man, 200 yards behind him, closing and then began firing. I saw strikes on the left side of the fuselage and the cockpit. The e/a shot upward and fell off on the right wing. I followed him down to 6,000' or lower. He was still going straight down when I pulled off. Two of the e/a were seen to hit the ground by Maj Myers. In my opinion the strikes I observed in and around the cockpit must have killed the pilot because the plane appeared to be out of control and headed towards the ground with terrific speed and in an uncontrollable dive. I pulled out of my dive while chasing him down at app. 6,000'. The last I saw of the e/a was at about 4-5,000' going straight down. In view of the above facts and since two of the e/a were seen to crash, I sincerely believe one must have been mine. I claim one Me 109 destroyed.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by CHARLES BLAIR of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of CHARLES BLAIR's combat experience.
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