James Carter

Captain James R. Carter, Keyworth Blue One

a. Combat.

b. 11 January 1944.

c. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Group.

d. 1058 - 1120 hours.

e. North of Osnabruck

f. 10/10 s trato cumulus, low top about 10,000, cirro stratus 4/10 at 27,000 to 30,000 feet.

g. Three Me 109's

h. 1 Me 109 destroyed, 1 Me 109 probably destroyed, 1 Me 109 damaged. i . Colonel Schilling, leading 56 A G roup, made r/v with the lead box of bombers about 1055 hours a nd crossed over to the left side and proceeded along in front of the bombers. We were at 26,000 feet about 15 miles ahead and 10 o'clock to the bombers formation when 25 + Me 10 9s jumped us from 10 o'clock and 3000 feet above. I was leading Keyworth Blue flight second to the Colonel and followed him in meeting the 10 9' s head on. We broke left and climbed above some of the e/a. A general dog fight ensued and on saying a 109 roll down in front of me, I dove on him and fired going straight down. The e/a w ent into a spin and then tumbled end over end. I claim a probable on this one. My number two man and I broke off at about 16,000 feet and pulled back up to 24,000 feet and headed E ast for the lead box which had passed us. Colonel Schilling was in front of us yet, and with his wing man we made a flight of four. Eight e/a were climbing up to the bombers from 11 o'clock below and we made a head on attack at them b ut they dove back to the deck. We pulled out at 14,000 feet and recovered at 18,000 feet. Yardstick reported a straggling bomber between the 1st and 2nd box of bombers and asked us to rendezvous with him there. We could see the straggler and there were about 6 e/a around it. At that time, about 11:15 hours, my wingman and I got on the sun side and bouncing FW-190 which was flying formation with the Fort. On the right side. When about 1200 yards away, an Me 109 made a pass at the Fort and crossed in front of the 190 and turned right. I fell in behind the 109 and fired several bursts from about 250 to 150 yards a nd saw many strikes on the fuselage and engine w ith pieces flying off; t he canopy passed just under me and the pilot bailed out. I pulled up over the records and climbed back into the sun. This e/a I claim as destroyed. My wingman, F /O H ayes, on his first mission, was right in there and always gave me good cover. We recovered and then made another pass at two Me 109's which were making a quarter attack from 8 o'clock on the f ort. The time was about 1120 hours. I chose t he last one and on my first burst or two fired way out of range, but hoped they would break off and turn as our rate of closure was too low. I fired again at the tail 109 and saw hits in the wings. My tracers converged in front of him and showed I was leading too much. On the final burst as I ran out of ammunition I could see a few scattered hits. I claim a damaged o n this Me 109. I pulled up over these 2 e/ a and called to my wingman to shoot and I would cover him. He pulled into good position, but got caught in the prop wash of the e/a and was flipped on his back. When he recovered, the 109's were at too great an angle for him to fire, so I called him to join up with me. We climbed then from 14,000 to 24,000 feet and rejoin ed Colonel Schilling and his wingman, Lieutenant Funcheon who had been my four, and proceeded home unmolested . j. 1443 rds , .50 cal