HAROLD BURT
359th Fighter Group 08/05/1944
B. DATE: 5 August 1944
C. UNIT: 369th Fighter Squadron
D. TIME ATTACK MADE: 1210
E. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF ATTACK: Tarmstedt , at 24,000 to 500 feet.
F. WEATHER: CAVU
G. TYPE OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT: Me 109
H. ENEMY CASUALTIES (Pilot's claim): 1 Me 109 destroyed
I. ACCOUNT OF COMBAT (In narrative form stressing ours and enemy's tactics). I was flying red 2 position. We sighted six or eight 109's to our right and at our level. When we attacked the enemy broke up and I followed four into a lufberry to the left. The four 109's stayed in tight formation and kept turning to the left. Another P-51 joined me and we circled for five minutes firing at 90 degree deflection. I saw strikes on one enemy plane's tail and he did a half roll and dove to the ground. His initial maneuver was a split- ess , in which gained on me. This was followed by an apparent attempt to make an inverted loop. The plane seemed to shudder as though a rudder cable broke. He then went straight in from about 5,000 feet. I followed until he hit the ground and exploded. I pulled out with an indicated air speed of 650 mph at 500 feet. I claim one (1) Me 109 destroyed.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by HAROLD BURT of the 359th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of HAROLD BURT's combat experience.
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