Francis Gabreski

A. Combat.

b. 26 November 1943.

c. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Group.

d. 1215 hours.

e. S.E. of Oldenburg (10 miles)

f. 5/10 cumulus, 12,000 feet.

g. Two M e -1 10's

h. Two M e -1 10's destroyed. i . Leading Blue Flight and second section, I stayed with the group leader until r/v with the B -17's about 10 miles southeast of Oldenburg. Just as we were closing into the rear of the Forts, White Leader made attack to the right on one FW-190. I led the second section to the left and spotted two M e-110's an orbit t o the left to take position on the bombers from the rear at 26,000 feet. Immediately I broke down to make my attack. I closed in on the first M e - 110 which was at the moment making a very gentle left turn. Undoubtedly I was seen by the pilot of the 110 and he started into a gentle dive. I was at 22,000 feet before I opened fire, dead astern from about 700 yards. At first I observed hits on the wings and e ngine till I close d to 300 yards, when fire was observed spouting from his engines. Still firing, I flew through the flying pieces, tearing off o f the 110. At the same moment m y rate of closure was a little faster than I allowed for, and before I realized it I was practically flying through the plane. I shoved the stick forward as hard as I could. To avoid collision, and believe me, I didn't shove the stick forward a second too soon as smoke and burnt particles enter ed my cockpit by the way of the heater vent. The oil splattered over the leading edge of the wing and the enemy plane itself s kimmed over the top of my canopy. The picture of the second combat m ay be obscured as oil was collected on the lens after the first attack. After getting out of that scrape quite easy , I pulled up and orbited left to survey the situation. The plane went down burning, which is verified by wingman, Blue Two. Not realizing that the leading edge of my right wing was crushed and my left wing torn, I recovered at 22,000 feet. Looking around I discovered that I was left alone with my wingman, Lieutenant Barnum. Climbing to get above and to the left side of the Bombers, who at the moment w ere just ahead of me, I observed another Me-110 which was undoubtedly trying to get in position to the rear of the F orts. Lieutenant Barnum and I made a sharp o rbit left and started letting down on him. The pilot must have seen us as he broke off his attack and started a slow diving turn. I pursued with throttle wide open. My rate of closure was very slow, so I judge that the 110 was indicating at least 400 a s I was clocking 420 at 18,000 feet. I closed in to about 600 yards and began firing. The enemy plane suffered a few hits near the junction of wing and fuselage. The pilot didn't realize his speed a nd rather than watch me close in on him, h e decided to roll over and headed straight down. I broke off my attack at about 14,000 feet, indicating 450 and, in a gentle turn to the left, started climbing. A few seconds after I broke off my attack, I saw the e/a going down vertically and a huge explosion was observed on the ground. That was the end of him. My wingman was still with me. What a pilot! L t. Barnum and I climbed to 24,000. escorted on the left hand side of the bombers for about 10 more minutes, and decide d to return to base. I claim two M e -110 destroyed. FRANCIS S. GABRESKI, Major, Air Corps