JAMES DICKSON
355th Fighter Group 03/06/1944
I. I was leading Trooptrain Yellow Flight and we were escorting the rear box of B-24's at app. 19,000' to 18,000' for the bombers when I saw a lone Me 109 diving for the clouds at 10,000' on our left. I called him in to Trooptrain leader who immediately dived down on the e/ a and apparently he lost sight of the 109 in the clouds because he pulled up sharply and climbed back to bomber level. I remained and orbited around the cloud and above when the 109 came back into view about 3,000' below me. The cloud tops were at 7,000'. I bounced him immediately and he went into a sharp right turn and started climbing up into the clouds again. I gave him a short burst from 400 yards with a half ring deflection and observed many strikes hitting in and around the center of the a/c and he began smoking. We went thru the clouds and I trailed him thru and opened fire at 200 yards, closing rapidly and cutting my throttle. My second burst resulted in several explosions in and around the cockpit and a number of large pieces flew back at me which I managed to dodge. I gave him a third burst at 50 yards just for luck and he spun in from 3,000'. My wingman, Lt Burlingame, saw him hit the ground and explode. I claim one Me 109 destroyed. My wingman gave me grand cover throughout the dog fight, in and out of the clouds, and I don't know how he did it. It was a swell job.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JAMES DICKSON of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JAMES DICKSON's combat experience.
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