J BRASHER

Account of Combat: I was flying White #3 in Capt. Munson's flight who was leading the Group. One lone Fort reported his position at 16,000 ft., behind the group of bombers, under attack by one Me-210. White and Red flights went down to investigate. Just about the cloud layer which was at about 10,000 ft. we found six or eight 109's. Red Flight and White #1 and #2 bounced these. I saw two 109's behind the rest of them so I bounced these to keep them from getting behind Red and White flights. These E/a went into a cloud. Just before the second 109 went into the cloud I fired a short burst at about 800 yds. with no visible results. I dived through the clouds and when I broke through I saw a 109 smoking with four 47's behind it. I zoomed up through the clouds and made about a 60 degree head on pass at a 109. My wing man and I went into a Luftberry with him at about 8,000 ft. We could not gain on him so I dived into a cloud and zoomed back up to the top of the clouds. A flight of four 47's forced this 109 into a cloud and I saw his break through and dive for the deck. I followed him down and fired several short bursts at about 1500 yds., about 100 ft. altitude, hoping to make him use evasive actions. Using water injection I gained on him, firing all the time, seeing strikes at the wing roots and behind the cockpit. The E/a lost speed and chandelled up to the left. I followed firing intermittently and saw him jetison his canopy. I fired another burst and he rolled over on his back at about 1,000 ft. I was about 800 yards behind at this time. I continued my turn and saw him floating down in a parachute and his ship hit and burn in a wooded section. I climbed back to 18,000 ft. with my wingman and proceeded home. I claim one Me-109 destroyed.