GLENN DUNCAN

A . Combat B . 6 March, 194 4 C . 3 5 2nd F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . Approximately 1200. First encounter approximately 19,000 feet. Second encounter down to 3,000 feet. E . Vicinity of Steinhuder Lake F . 5/10 overcast 6000 feet. G . F w 190 's H . 2 F w 190 's destroyed . I . I was leading the Group, consisting of eight sections, making two squadrons of 16 P47's each. We had just made R/V with the 3 rd Division B17's and had left a section of eight ships to give escort to the rear box. As the rest of the Group was closing up the middle box, some twelve plus Fw 190's made a head on pass through the Fort formation N.W. of Steinhuder Lake. If we could have been one minute earlier we could have stopped the attack, but due to the time element we were only able to engage the E/A as they came out of the rear of the bomber formation. Two Forts were seen shot down by this pass which was not any fair trade for the four SE/E/A that I saw go down immediately after the attack. I went down with both wing tanks on dropping one as I closed on a Fw 190. I was able to close but not fast enough so I shot some long range bursts hoping to be lucky for once in my life but I reckon the shooting is not too good yet. I study some more charts now. After a few seconds chasing I closed to about 500 yds. and caused the Fw to roll over. He was sucker bait then. I stayed with him through thick and thin (the wing tank was still pushing gas into the good ole engine) and finally after patient and incessant firing I managed to get enough strikes in the w ings and cockpit to kill him. He went down. By this time the wing tank was dry so I dropped it and had to run help my #2 who had an Fw on his --- I mean tail. Lt. Guertz was having a lot of fun out-diving the Jerry, but we weren't doing any good that way so I cut in and chased the Hun away. I was unable to kill him as the bombers were still getting attacks we pulled back up to them . There were many P47's in the area causing some confusion but we managed to recognize them at the moment before shooting. I saw one Fw 190 N.E. of Steinhuder Lake starting to go after the bombers so I tacked onto his tail and chased him around through a few gyrations and finally managed to hit him going down in a heavy dive indicating about 550. He splattered nicely in a German town. I claim 2 F w 190 's destroyed , 2 pilots destroyed and one German house blown up by their own fighter.