Clifford Armstrong

353rd Fighter Group 02/10/1944


 

ENCOUNTER REPORT

 

A.  Combat.

B.  10 February 1944.

C.  352nd Fighter Squadron.

D.  1245.

E.  Lingen, Germany.  28,000 to 2,000 feet.

F.  6-7/10ths cumulus clouds, base approx. 2,000 feet.

G.  Me 109.

H. One Me 109 destroyed.

I.  I was flying Wakeford White 2.  We had made R/V with the last box of bombers at 28,000 feet.  I spotted an Me 110 below us and called Wakeford Leader.  We started to make a pass at the 110 but another flight cut us off and so we pulled up to be top cover.  About this time I heard someone call that there was an E/A on his tail.  I glanced to my left and a P-47, followed closely by an Me 109, went by.  I didn’t have time to call Wakeford Leader and I immediately did a half-roll and went down after the 109.  I followed down in approx. a 45o dive.  I fired several short bursts out of range, probably about 800 yards, hoping to get the 109 off the 47’s tail.  At about 15,000 feet the P-47 broke to the left and the 109 continued in the dive.  I followed the 109 down, gradually closing to approx. 250 yards, at 350 to 400 M.P.H.  I got several hits on the E/A on the left side of the fuselage; at this time I was down to 2,000 ft.  The E/A started to smoke and did sort of a half-roll to the left and crashed into a field in the vicinity of Lingen.  I went back up to 4,000 feet into a layer of clouds and flew instruments most of the time until I made landfall out.  There were several breaks in the clouds and I could see pretty well where I was.

I claim one Me 109 destroyed.

 

CLIFFORD F. ARMSTRONG,

1st Lt, AC,

352nd F Sq.

 

 

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Clifford Armstrong of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Clifford Armstrong's combat experience.


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