Charles Yeager

357th Fighter Group 10/12/1944

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ENCOUNTER REPORT

PILOT:  CHARLES E. YEAGER, 1st Lt, AC, O-887005

 

A.  COMBAT

B.  12 October 1944                         Field Order Number 1235A.

C.  363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group.

D.  1130

E.  STEINHUDER LAKE to HANOVER, GERMANY

F.  5/10 cumulus from 3,000 feet to 5,000 feet.

G.  Me. 109s

H.  Five Me. 109s destroyed

I.  I was leading the Group with Cement Squadron and was roving out to the right of the first box of bombers.  I was over STEINHUDER LAKE when 22 Me. 109s crossed in front of my Squadron from 11:00 O’Clock to 1:00 O’Clock.  I was coming out of the sun and they were about 1 ½ miles away at the same level of 28,000 feet.  I fell in behind the enemy formation and followed them for about 3 minutes, climbing to 30,000 feet.  I still had my wing tanks and had closed up to around 1,000 yards, coming within firing range and positioning the Squadron behind the entire enemy formation.  Two of the Me. 109s were lagging over to the right.  One slowed up and, before I could start firing, rolled over and bailed out.  The other Me. 109, flying his wing, bailed out immediately after as I was ready to line him in my sights.  I was the closest to the tail-end of the enemy formation and no one, but myself, was in shooting range and no one was firing.  I dropped my tanks and then closed up to the last Jerry and opened fire from 600 yards, using the K-14 sight.  I observed strikes all over the ship, particularly heavy in the cockpit.  He skidded off to the left and was smoking and streaming coolant and went into a slow diving turn to the left.  I was closing up on another Me. 109 so I did not follow him down.  Lt. STERN, flying in Blue Flight, reports this E/A on fire as it passed him and went into a spin.  I closed up on the next Me. 109 to 100 yards, skidded to the right and took a deflection shot of about 10^o.  I gave about a 3 second burst and the whole fuselage splitopen and blew up after we passed.  Another Me. 109 to the right had cut his throttle and was trying to get behind.  I broke to the right and quickly rolled to the left on his tail.  He started pulling it in and I was pulling 6”G”.  I got a lead from around 300 yards and gave him a short burst.  There were hits on wings and tail section.  He snapped to the right 3 times and bailed out when he quit snapping at around 18,000 feet.

I did not blackout during this engagement due to the efficiency of the “G” Suit.  Even though I was skidding I hit the second Me. 109sby keeping the bead and range on the E/A.  To my estimation the K-14 Sight is the biggest improvement to combat equipment for Fighters up to this date.

The Me. 109s appeared to have a type of bubble canopy and had purple noses and were a mousey brwon all over.

I claim Five Me. 109s destroyed.

J.  Ammunition expended:  587 rounds .50 cal MG.

 

CHARLES E. YEAGER,

1st Lt, AC.

 

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Charles Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Charles Yeager's combat experience.

Combat Reports

Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 03/04/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 09/13/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 11/06/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 11/27/1944

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  357th Fighter Group