Francis Gabreski

A. Combat.

b. 20 February 1944

c. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.

d. 1244 hours.

e. 30 miles west of Hannover

f. 4 /10 low stratus and strato cumulus

g. Three Me-110's

h. Two Me-110's des troyed , 1 Me-110 damaged. i . Leading Keyworth squadron and flying Keyworth White 1. The squadron made l/f in the north of Ijmuiden at 22,000 feet and r/v with bombers was made on time. The squadron positioned itself on the left flank of the bombers and no e/a were encountered until we were about to break off our escort in the vicinity of Hannover. As we were making our last run along the flank of the Bombers, Lieutenant Foster. Red One called in a formation about 7 o'clock to the us at 12,000 feet. He suggested that I take a 180 ° to the left and I would be in perfect position for a bounce. No sooner said t h a n done. A 180 was completed and that put us directly u p sun and White Flight dove down from 22,000 feet i n a perfectly coordinated attack which put the three flights directly astern of each other, well spaced to the rear. The M e-110's flew i n two sections a stern. About six to seven planes, in the first section, echelon d to the right, and about the same in the second section, also echelon ed to the right. The distance between sections was about 700 yards. A perfect setup. I do vw t hrough the first sections, opened fire at about 800 yards, picking the second man from the extreme r ight. I close d to about 50 yards. Does the 110 lost h is tail and wing in that attack , while I proceeded to continue my pa ss towards the first section of Me-110's . I again opened fire at about 500 yards and saw strikes all over the fuselage and wing of the ship flying on the extreme right. I closed to about 50 feet and broke off. The e/a exploded and the pieces hit the ground. By the time that I regained a little altitude and completed at 180, it appeared to me that the enemy planes in both sections were destroyed with the exception of one. The sky was still littered with burning planes and chutes floating through the sky. Actually, there were six to seven chutes seen in this vicinity. It must have been t he most perfect show that I had been on. In my estimation, the pilots that flew with me were perhaps the best that I have ever had the pleasure of flying with. It seems t hat nothing escapes them. Before we had time to actually get together again, I spotted the lone Me-110 that had gotten away. I dove from 12,000 feet to 5000 b efore I close d to about 1500 yards. At this moment, the Me-110 started diving away down into the clouds. I close d to about 900 yards and fired just before the plane hit the overcast. A few hits were observed around the wing roots and just as I was about to close in for a good shot, the Hun hit the cloud. I broke up and regained about 14,000 feet of my altitude and proceeded towards home. Much to my surprise, the entire squadron was still pretty much intact. Six planes returned as a flight, while six more proceeded just a little a head and above. A more perfect exhibition has never been displayed at any show by a squadron. Of men who are really eager to destroy the Hun. I claim to two Me-110's destroyed and 1 Me-110 damaged. j. 1152 rds .50 cal A.P.I