361st Fighter Group 06/25/1944
ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. COMBAT.
B. 25 JUNE 1944. F.O. 417, VIII FIGHTER COMMAND.
C. 375TH FIGHTER SQUADRON. 361ST FIGHTER GROUP.
D. 0720 HOURS.
E. 15 MILES NORTH OF ROUEN.
F. CAVU.
G. ME-109.
H. 2 ME-109’S DESTROYED.
I. FLYING CADET BLUE FOUR, I FOLLOWED BLUE LEADER DOWN ON A FORMATION OF
30 PLUS BOGIES FLYING AT 10,000 FEET. WHEN THE BOGIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS ME-109’S, WE DROPPED OUR WING TANKS, AND IN DOING SO I DROPPED BEHIND THE FORMATION. AS I WAS CATCHING UP I OBSERVED TWO ME-109’S CLOSING IN ON ME FROM OUT OF THE SUN AT FOUR O’CLOCK. I IMMEDIATELY BROKE IN A HARD LEFT TURN, AND WHEN I ROLLED OUT I COULD FIND NO A/C OTHER THAN THE TWO E/A ON MY TAIL. IN CONCENTRATION ON EVADING THE E/A I NEGLECTED TO USE THE RADIO. THE E/A WERE FLYING LINE ABREAST, AND WHEN I TRIED TURNING, THE E/A ON THE INSIDE WOULD FIRE; ON A STRAIGHT COURSE BOTH E/A WOULD ALTERNATELY FIRE ON ME. TO GET DISTANCE IN A HURRY I WENT INTO A GRADUAL DIVE, AND STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE E/A. THE E/A CONTINUED TO FOLLOW, AND AFTER FLYING NE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WITHOUT RUNNING ACROSS ANY FRIENDLY FIGHTERS, I DECIDED TO FIGHT IT OUT AND ALLOWED THEM TO GAIN. WHEN THEY PULLED UP FAIRLY CLOSE, I STARTED A LEFT TURN. AFTER TWO COMPLETE TURNS I WAS OUT-TURNING THEM, AND THEY BROKE IN A CLIMBING TURN INTO THE SUN. I FOLLOWED AND SOON CAME IN RANGE AND BEGAN FIRING. AS I BEGAN TO CLOSE, BOTH E/A BROKE TO THE RIGHT ALLOWING ME TO PULL UP, STILL IN FORMATION THEY EMPLOYED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT I GOT LINED UP ON THE WINGMAN. I GAVE HIM ONE LONG BURST FROM 100 YARDS, 5 DEGREES DEFLECTION, AND THE E/A EXPLODED, FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, AND WENT STRAIGHT DOWN IN A MASS OF FLAMES. I THEN BROKE TO THE RIGHT WHILE THE OTHER E/A TURNED LEFT. BUT HAVING SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET ALTITUDE ON HIM, I GOT ON HIS TAIL AND STARTED TO CLOSE IN ON HIM. AS I WAS RAPIDLY PULLING UP AT 4,000 FEET, HE ROLLED OVER ON HIS BACK AND TRIED TO SPLIT “S” OUT. I FOLLOWED HIM IN A DIVING TURN. THE E/A COULD NOT PULL OUT AND DOVE INTO THE DECK WHERE IT EXPLODED AND BURNED. I CLAIM THESE TWO ME-109’S DESTROYED.
J. E2-M. 42-106880. P-51. 708 ROUNDS.
JACK S. CRANDELL
2ND LT., AIR CORPS.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Jack Crandell of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Jack Crandell's combat experience.
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