Frank Klibbe

a . Combat b . 21 Februar y , 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . Approximately 152 0 hours e . 28,000 feet over Zuider Zee f . Visibility good, no cloud cover g . 2 M E -109 's h . 1 M E -109 destroyed i . I was flying Halstead Blue 3 to my leader Lt. Brooks in B Section when we were attacked by 3 ME109's over the Zuider Zee at about 28,000 ft. We went into a Lufberry with them and made about five turns with them. We had just begun to gain on the tail end one, when I saw one going across in front of me at about a 75 o angle. I opened fire with a large deflection and held it until it passed in front of me. I don't think I hit this one at all. Later as th e fight continued, I saw another ME-109 out in front quite a way, making a turn into me. I started cutting this one off, using a large deflection and closing on him. As I got to a position of about a 20 o angle, I noticed the ME-109 start to roll to get away. Just at this time a piece came off the tail section and the plane seemed to go completely out of control. I still held the burst and saw the ME-109 start tumbling. Smoke was coming out of the engine by this time, and I watched it for several thousand feet, still stumbling. As the fight continued further, I saw one other P-47 diving to get on another ME -109. I saw this P-47 (piloted by F/O McMinn) close and fire at the ME-109. The E / A acted almost the same as the one I fired at. It rolled over and started tumbling and smoke came from the ship. In both cases the pilot must have been hit. I saw this ship fall in the same manner for approximately 15,000 ft. I claim 1 ME-109 destroyed, and I confirm 1 ME-109 destroyed for F/O McMinn. j. 1 252 rds .50 cal A.P.I.