H Spicer

a . C ombat . b . 22 February 1944 . c . 35 7 th Fighter Group . d . 14 09. e . Bernburg , Germany . f . CAVU. Large open space at target. g . ME 109 . h . Pilot. 1 ME 109 D EST i . I was leading the Group, and due to late rendezvous did not pick up bombers until the I/P had been reached. One squadron was assigned to the rear box, while I took the lead box with my squadron (11 airplanes). While on the bomb run, my rear flight broke off to inter cept 109's coming in from the high right, my second flight was dispatched to engage 109's making high rear attacks on the bombers, and I took my flight to intercept 6 109's coming down in a frontal attack. This attack was broken up, one of the 109's breaking over me at 180 o . I hauled it around in a tight turn (later learning that the other members of my flight had all spun out in the turn) and gave chase. The Hun was climbing into the sun, about 2 miles ahead and above me. I did not seem to be closing, so dropped my tanks and put everything to the fire wall. The high blower cut back in at 21, 200, giving me ample power to over take him. He lent me further assistance by leveling off, so I closed from dead astern and below, waited till he filled the sight, put the dot on him, and gave him the Gen. KEPNER one-two. All guns responded heartily, he immediately blew up and became obscured in a brownish-orange cloud of smoke. I pulled up and passed over him at about 10 feet, distinctly seeing the black crosses on the wings (thank God), and then rolled over to watch him go down, always keeping my tail clear. The ship completed a 180 o diving turn, leveled off, and as it did not seem to be on fire I took out after him again; but before I could close the second time he started flopping, turned over and dove straight down. I could see his shadow rapidly coming in from the south, and as the two merged, a beautiful explosion took place, sullying the otherwise tranquil and pastoral snow scape with vivid red flame and billowing black smoke. This 109 was painted light brown, and was equipped with a single belly tank slung under the fuselage. The pilot was inordinately stupid, as he failed to clear his tail whatsoever from the time I gave chase until he no longer had the opportunity. No parachute was seen. j . 10 0 rounds .