GLENN KOONTZ

30 July 1943 84th Fighter Squadron 1020 Near Winterswijk, Holland Clear-visibility unlimited FW 190 and ME 109 One (1) FW 190 destroyed I was Bayland White Two flying on Major Robert's wing. We crossed the Coast at Hamstede and held to our course until we were met by the bombers coming out. They were called off to our left and we made a 90 degree turn into and behind them. Major Roberts picked out two FW 190's and made an attack. He was firing on the number one, so I fired on the second e/a, but observed no hits. He took no evasive action except a slight turn. I had to leave him to stay with my leader who had broke away. There were four FW 190's lining up to one side of bombers, and we headed for them. Major Roberts caught the last one, pulled up into range and fired. Hits couls be seen all over the e/a and when I last saw this enemy ship it was going down in flames. We continued on past the bombers and came up behind two FW 190's. The Major was closing up into range and I pulled out to one side to get on the other one. I waited until the Major started firing, and observed hits on the e/a he was firing at. The enemy ship started smoking, wheels came down and the aircraft caught on fire. By this time I had come up to the other FW 190 and started firing. I observed hits on his right wing and as I pulled away to follow my leader, the e/a caught on fire and fell off into a slight turning dive. We crossed over in front of the bombers to the left where Major Roberts got on the tail of a ME 109. He peeled off to attack the bombers head-on, and Major Roberts cut across the circle and gor on his tail, and sent him down in smoke and flames. We then had to fly through the formation of bombers, who, I think, saw this action and identified us. We pulled up to the left on the starboard side of the bombers and headed for home. This last combat took place in the vicinity east of Tiel, Holland. We crossed Dutch Coast at about 25,000 feet, indicating 240 MPH, out over Overflakkee Island. When over the Channel we joined up with two more P-47's and came on home. A lot of flak was observed around the bombers all the way out, and particularly heavy around us when we crossed the Dutch Coast. Flak was accurate for altitude, but not position. All the e/a I saw seemed to be slate gray in color, and I should judge there were from 100 to 150 in the vicinity of the bombers while we were there. I saw one straggler bomber, the first one we went in to help. I think he finally went down- the last time I saw him he was going down in gentle dive, smoking. I claim one (1) FW 190 destroyed.