352nd Fighter Group 11/02/1944
ENCOUNTER REPORT
CAPT DONALD S. BRYAN
A. Combat
B. 2 November 1944
C. 328th F/s, 352nd F/g
D. 1230-1250 hrs
E. Vic Merseburg, Germany
F. 9-10/10 at 4000 ft with occasional holes
G. ME 109s
H. 5 ME 109s Destroyed (Air), and 2 ME 109s DAMAGED (Air)
I. I was leading Yellow Flight with Lts Hill, Montgomery and Briggs as my Nos 2, 3 and 4 men, respectively. I was flying at about 28000 ft. Just before reaching the target many contrails were called in coming from the East. I turned on my switches and prepared for combat. Shortly after that I saw the contrails and was able to identify them as ME 109s. Thereseemed to be about 50 of them; approx 40 in a box with several more above them as top cover. By the time I could get in position for my bounce about 10-15 of them had started down on the bombers; the others were preparing to start down. I figured that if I hit the middle of them I could break up the attack. I led my flight in a diving attack into the midst of the E/a. I closed to about 100 yds on one of the ME 109s. Using my K-14 sight for the first time I got only a few strikes. I over ran this E/a diving under him about 20 ft. As I did so I looked back and saw his coolant system was shot out. I claim this E/a damaged.
My No 3 man called and said there was an E/a positioning itself on me. I did a snap roll and lost the ME 109 very effectively, plus the rest of my own flight. For the next 10 minutes I was in at least fifteen separate combats. During this time I made a stern attack on 8 E/a flying in string. I attacked the last E/a in the string and observed many strikes. This ME 109 went down in flames. I claim this E/a destroyed.
There were many other formations of E/a in the immediate vicinity. I then proceeded to attack another E/a from astern and got many good hits on the fuselage and wing. Many pieces flew off and the E/a began to emit much black smoke and started down from about 10,000 ft. I last observed this E/a in a steep dive going through the undercast at 4000 ft with a great deal of smoke pouring from it. I claim this E/a Destroyed. During the melee I attacked another ME 109 getting strikes. I cliam this E/a damaged. While I was making these attacks I was being engaged by other E/a all the time.
I then saw a single ME 109 and P-51 which I later learned was flown by Lt Camerer of my squadron. These two A/c were in an engagement bobbing in and out of the clouds. I attacked the E/a which dove into the clouds at about 4000 ft. This ME 109 came out of the clouds shortly after that and I made several attacks on him as he went in and out of the clouds. After several attacks I was able to make what I thought was going to be a head-on pass, but as it turned out I was about 90 degrees to the E/a. I opened fire at about 500 yds and closed to about 150 yds observing strikes in the cock-pit and on the wing. The E/a nosed over sharply and went down through the undercast with gas pouring from his wing root. I followed him down and observed him in a very steep dive towards the ground at about 1000 ft indicating about 350 mph or 400 mph. I later learned from Lt Camerer who had joined me and was flying my wing that this ME 109 crashed and exploded. I claim this E/a Destroyed.
(Combat Report, Capt D. S. Bryan, 2 Nov 1944)
I then started back up towards the bombers with Lt Camerer on my wing. At about 10,000 ft I observed two ME 109s (f or g’s) flying just above the undercast at 5000 ft. I moved into position and split s’d onto the last one. I had only two guns firing as I made my attack. At about 500 yds I opened fire and hit the E/a very hard around the fuselage and wings. At about 300 yds I hit the E/a on the wing and either the wing tip or the top of the wing flew off. The E/a snapped into a very violent spin to the left and went through the undercast in flames and spinning. I claim this E/a Destroyed.
I proceeded to attack the lead ship of the E/a then, and got strikes on him. One of my guns stopped firing at this time so that I had only one gun firing and it threw me off a bit. I found it difficult to get many strikes while closing from 350 to 150 yds. When I had closed to about 80 yds I got strikes through the fuselage and wing roots. I broke off the attack and the ME 109 went through the undercast at 4000 ft in a very steep dive indicting about 350 mph with much black smoke pouring from it. I claim this E/a Destroyed. I then climbed back to altitude and returned to base without further incident.
I claim 5 E/a Destroyed and 2 E/a Damaged. (Air)
Ser No of A/c: 44-14061
A/c Markings: PE-B
Ammo Expended: 1238 rds
DONALD S. BRYAN,
Capt, AC.
CONFIRMATION OF CLAIM
During the mission of 2 Nov 1944; target: Merseburg, I was engaged by an ME 109. Capt Bryan, Yellow Leader, then joined us and attacked the E/a, getting many strikes. The E/a nosed over, and going into a steep dive crashed into the ground and exploded.
I climbed back up and joined Capt Bryan again and was flying his wing when he split s’d onto two E/a. I observed many strikes on the last ME 109 as a result of Capt Bryan’s fire. The right wing of the E/a seemed to come off and the E/a snapped into a spin, in flames. I last saw this ME 109 spinning into the overcast in flames.
Capt Bryan then proceeded to attack the lead ship. He got many strikes on this E/a around the fuselage and cowling. It went into a very steep dive through the overcast, smoking badly. I believe that this E/a was out of control.
MILTON G. CAMERER,
1st Lt, AC.
DAVID F. LEE, JR
Capt, AC,
S-2 O.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Donald Bryan of the 352nd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Donald Bryan's combat experience.
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