Darrel Bachman
55th Fighter Group 04/10/1945
PILOT’S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat.
B. 10 April 1945.
C. 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
D. 1450.
E. Near Galworde.
F. 7/10ths at 20,000 feet, clear below.
G. Me 262.
H. One Me 262 damaged.
I. I was flying number 2 in Program White Flight on the port side of our bomber box at about 20,000 feet. Our flight leader called out an Me 262 at 2 o’clock high and gave the order to prepare to drop tanks. I lost the E/A for a moment and then saw my flight leader fet on his tail and the Jerry pilot bail out. I then spotted two more Me 262’s pass over us from 10 o’clock. I called them out and broke hard right which put me on the tail of one. At 700 yards I started firing and observed several hits on the jet’s wing. Then the enemy pilot gave it the juice, and despite the fast that I chased him for 5 minutes, I couldn’t catch him. Finally I broke off and rejoined our formation. As a result of this combat I claim one Me 262 damaged.
J. Ammunition Expended – 150 Rounds.
DARREL D. BACHMAN, O-834932,
2nd Lieut., Air Corps.
S T A T E M E N T
As I pulled up to an altitude of 14,000 feet and watched the first Me 262 crash (see my Encounter Report), I saw two more jets about 2,000 feet above me at 3 o’clock heading southeast. They had just turned on their jets and were pulling long gray contrails and I observed my number two man fire at one and get several strikes. He continued to chase the jet and I tried to close on the other one but failed. I confirm my wingman’s claim of one Me 262 damaged.
KEITH R. MCGINNIS, O-666407,
1st Lieut., Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Darrel Bachman of the 55th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Darrel Bachman's combat experience.
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