Gerald Johnson

Pilot: Captain Gerald W . Johnson Keyworth Red Leader a . Combat b . 1 7 August , 1943 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Group d . 1 620 hours to 164 5 hours e . One Me-110 North of Liege, one Me-109 near Hasselt, one Me-109 near Diest f . C eiling unlimited, visibility slightly hazy g . One Me-110, two Me-109's h . One Me-110 d estroyed , two Me-109's destr oyed i . I was leading Keyworth Red flight in the first section of our squadron. We made landfall in over Walcheren Island at 1555 hours at 20,000 feet. We proceeded on course at this altitude to just north-east of Antwerp where we pulled up to about 22,000 feet and dropped belly tanks. Shortly after this, White flight led by Major Gabreski made an attack on two Me-109's coming in from the rear. We followed him in the attack and shortly after this attack he and his wing man returned because of fuel shortage. Since his number three man had returned sooner because he couldn't release his belly tank, Red flight was all there was left of the first section so we pulled up to join the second section. When we reached the bombers we crossed over the top to take a position on the left side of the last box. As we came out on the left side north of Liege about 25,000 feet, I saw a twin engine plane almost solid white, or very light gray, flying across the front B-17's in the last box at about 20 degrees to their course. He was flying at about their speed and about 1,000 feet above them. I immediately rolled over and went down on him from dead astern and about 30 degrees angle. At about 150 yards I opened fire and could see strikes all through the center of the plane. After about a two second burst he exploded with a flame about 40 feet in diameter and little pieces seemed to just hang in the air burning. It is my opinion from his position and action that he was preparing to drop bombs on the B-17's and that my bullets exploded his bombs because I don't believe anything else could have caused such a tremendous explosion. We then pulled up toward the sun to about 23,000 feet and upon leveling out saw a single Me-109 going in head on to the bombers. We came down on him at a steep angle and opened fire at about 200 yards. I could see hits and flashes on the fuselage and wing roots. At this point he started to turn left and a full burst seemed to hit between the cockpit and engine. There was a large flash of flame and smoke and he started to go down in a slow spiral. As I pulled back up in a climbing turn I saw the pilot bail out and the chute opened immediately. We then pulled back up to about 1,000 feet above the bombers and to their left and was approaching the rear of the front box when I saw another single Me-109 coming in from about 10 o'clock to the bombers. I couldn't get within range until he broke away from the bombers . I then easily closed to 100 yards without being seen by the enemy aircraft. I fired about a three second burst, seeing strikes all over the fuselage, and smoke and flame coming out. Without any evasive action he slowly rolled to the left and went straight down. As I pulled up in a tight climbing turn, I saw the Me-109 hit the ground in a cloud of smoke. I then found that I was by myself (my number two man and second element had chased two Me-109's off my tail during my last attack) and started for the coast at 17,000 feet. As I neared Antwerp, two Me-109's came up behind me and out to the side but when I turned into them, they broke down toward Antwerp. I then proceeded home without further incident. I attribute the success of this flight on this mission to the splendid cooperation and teamwork of my wing man, Lt. Foster, and my second element, Lt. Conger and Lt. R. S. Johnson. I claim one Me-110 destroyed and two Me-109's d estroyed .