HARLEY BROWN
20th Fighter Group 11/02/1943
B. 2 NOVEMBER 1943
C. 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 20TH FIGHTER GROUP
D. 1000-1110 HOURS
E. VICINITY HALLE/MERSEBURG
F. 9/10 CLOUD COVER
G. 2 FW 190 2 ME 109
H. 2 FW 190 DESTROYED 1 ME 109 DESTROYED 1 ME 109 DAMAGED I WAS FLYING WITH YELLOW SECTION NO 2 (IN YELLOW FLIGHT). WE WERE AT ABOUT 22,000 FEET HEADED ABOUT 150 DEGREE WHEN I SAW A GAGGLE OF 15 + ME 109'S AND FW 190'S 1000 FT AT BOMBER LEVEL, 26,000 FEET AND HEADED FOR THE BOMBERS. LT. MANSKER LEADING MY FLIGHT, HE MADE THE PASS AT THE E/A AND I STATED WITH HIM. I PICKED THE LAST E/A ON THE GAGGLE. OPENED FIRE AT 100 YDS. AND CLOSED TO 50 YDS. GAVE HIM A RIGHT DOWN TO LEFT DEFLECTION SHOT AND THE E/A STARTED SMOKING AND PULLING OFF. I CLAIM I (ONE) FW 190 DESTROYED. I WAS STILL ON LT. MANSKERS WING. WE BOTH CHANDELLED AND PULLED UP TO THE RIGHT TO ABOUT 20,000 FEET. WE SAW ANOTHER GAGGLE OF ABOUT 25 + E/A AT 25,000 FEET. I WAS ASTERN OF MANSKER NOW. I NOTICED AS I WAS PULLING IN A SHARP BREAK. AS I WAS PULLING THRU ANOTHER HE 109 PULLED IN ON ME. I SAW HIM IN MY SIGHTS LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE A DESCENDING BURST. I SAW STRIKES ON HIS LEFT WING. I CLAIM THIS ONE 109 DAMAGED. (THE E/A ON MY TAIL AT THIS TIME I LOST IN MY SHORT TURN). AFTER CHECKING TO BE SURE I HAD LOST THE E/A ON MY TAIL I HEADED BACK TO THE RIGHT AND GOT ON THE TAIL OF A FW 190 IN THE VICINITY OF HALLE. OPENED FIRE AT ABOUT 100 YDS GIVING 2 OR 2-SECOND BURSTS. I SAW STRIKES ALL OVER HIS FUSELAGE AND WING. THE PLANE STARTED SMOKING BADLY AND THEN WENT INTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN. I BELIEVE I KILLED THE PILOT IN MY ATTACK. THE HITS WERE WELL CONCENTRATED IN THE COCKPIT AREA. I CLAIM ONE (1) FW 190 DESTROYED.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by HARLEY BROWN of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of HARLEY BROWN's combat experience.
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