357th Fighter Group 11/06/1944
ENCOUNTER REPORT
PILOT: CHARLES E. YEAGER, CAPT, AC, O-887005
A. COMBAT
B. 6 November 1944 Field Order No. 1291A
C. 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group
D. 1100
E. Six Miles east of ASSEN, GERMANY
F. High cirrus at 32,000 feet – about 7/10 broken at 5,000 feet with low stratus.
G. Me. 262
H. One Me. 262 Destroyed – Two Me. 262 damaged.
I. I was leading White Flight in Cement Squadron when, north of OSNABRUCK at 1100 hours, we spotted three Me. 262s going 180o to us at about 2 O’Clock low. We were at 8,000 feet. Cement leader saw two more low and going in the same direction as we were. I and my flight turned to the right and headed the last man off. I got a 90o deflection burst at around 400 yards. I only got a hit or two on him before he pulled away. They were flying a loose “V” formation and they did not take any evasive action, but seemed to depend on their superior speed. They pulled out of range in the haze. We were flying along an overcast which was very thin and the edge of it was over to the right. Altitude about 5,000 feet. I went down under it and flew along a minute or two and I met them headon again only they were now flying about 2,000 feet. I split S-ed on the leader and they all separated and I fired a high deflection burst from above on the leader. I got behind him and was pulling 75” Hq. I was indicating 430 M.P.H. I fired two or three bursts and got hits on the fuselage and wings from 300 yards. Then he pulled away and went into the haze and I lost him. In this engagement I lost the rest of the flight and found myself alone. I climbed to 8,000 feet and headed north. I found a large airfield at 5258N – 0643 E with black wide runways about 6,000 feet long and started flying around it. I got a few bursts of flak but it was very inaccurate. I spotted a lone 262 approaching the field from the south at 500 feet. He was going very slow (around 200 M.P.H.). I split S-ed on it and was going around 500 M.P.H. at 500 feet. Flak started coming up very thick and accurate. I fired a short burst from around 400 yards and got hits on the wings. I had to break off at 300 yards because the Flak was getting too close. I broke straight up and looking back I saw the Jet E/A crash-land about 400 yards short of the field in a wooded field. A wing flew off outside the right Jet unit. The plane did not burn.
I claim One Me. 262 Destroyed and Two Me. 262s Damaged.
J. Ammunition Expended: 1083 rounds .50 Cal. MG.
CHARLES E. YEAGER,
Capt, AC.
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.
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