Jack Woertz

355th Fighter Group 11/29/1943

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HEADQUARTERS

355^TH FIGHTER GROUP

A.P.O. 637, U.S. ARMY

Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report

1. Combat, if casualties or damage is inflicted.

2. Nov 29, 1943

3. 358th Fighter Squadron

4. 1440

5. 10 miles West of Bremen

6. Overcast

7. One Me 109

8. One Me 109 destroyed.

I.      While escorting the bombers back, Captain Ekstrom and his Blue Flight went down after an E/A. I, leading Green Flight followed him down for a short distance with Lts. Peery and Hecht. Green two and three. Seeing that Blue Flight was all right, we pulled back up to rejoin the bombers at 26,000 ft when I spotted eight plus Me 109’s. They were coming from S.E., 4,000 ft above us (flying at 30,000 ft) and heading for the bombers at 2 o'clock. They passed over us and I believe were getting set to attack big friends, when four P-47’s of another Group appeared in front of them. The E/A jumped the  P-47’s. We were climbing all the time, and made two Lufberrys (sic). I closed on the last E/A. He started to roll down, I followed, closed to about 600 yards and gave him a short squirt. I saw no strikes. I again opened fire at 350 yards, then closed to 200, where I gave him about a two-second burst. I saw strikes on his canopy, left wing root, and fuselage. His left gas tank caught fire and grey smoke poured from it. After seeing the smoke I gave him another short burst as he rolled on his back fell inverted, and went off into a tight spin. The last I saw of him was at 8,000 feet in a tight spin and going down burning. Hecht and Peery were with me in the Lufberry (sic) and all during the engagement, pretty far behind.

        At this point, I was hopped from the right by an Me 109. I broke down, went into some clouds and he pulled off. I pulled out and saw that I was right over Bremen. The flak was very heavy, and very accurate at 12,000 ft. I ducked back into the clouds and flew instruments. I called Green two and three (Peery and Hecht), to ask if they were okay. Hecht answered for both and said they were all right and were heading home. This was at 1445, over Bremen at 12,000 ft, the last I heard or saw of both. Lts Peery and Hecht did not return. I came out of the clouds over the enemy coast, and returned to England.

JACK J. WOERTZ                   

1st Lt, AC.

 

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Jack Woertz of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Jack Woertz's combat experience.

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  355th Fighter Group