Joe Latimer

361st Fighter Group 01/30/1944

HEADQUARTERS 361 ST FIGHTER GROUP A . P . O . # 637 U. S. ARMY E N C O U N T E R R E P O R T

A . C ombat B . 30 - 1 -44 , F.O. 227 C . 374th Fighter Squadron D . 1 13 0 - 1145 E . Rheine Area F . Light overcast 1/10,000 ft and 2 9 ,000 ft . G . ME109 G H . 1 ME109 G D estroyed I . I was leading Blue Flight in the Rheine Area. My Flight began a left orbit with the Squadron when 3 ME109G's began maneuvering into position for an attack out of the sun at 30,000 ft. We were attacked at 27,000 ft from the rear and all flights began to turn into the attack. The enemy still had 20 plus A/C at 30,000 ft that had not yet attacked. One of the three E/A bounced LT ECKFELDT, Yellow 4, who was 1,000 ft below me. I dived down to attack when the E/A saw me and broke off his attack and started down. I had no trouble catching him at 500 m.p.h. indicated and at 300 yds at about 10,000 ft. I gave him a short burst and saw strikes about the canopy and wing roots. He began smoking badly and went straight down. I broke left and climbed back up to 11,000 ft and reformed my flight and came home. I particularly noticed during the encounter that ME109G pilot attempted no evasive action except the high speed dive which to me shows a lack of experience and knowledge of dive characteristics of the P-47 airplane. I claim this ME109G Destroyed. J. Approximately 6 00 rounds of ammunition expended.

Joe L. Latimer, 2nd Lt. S U P P O R T I N G S T A T E M E N T I was flying Blue 4 when LT LATIMER, leading Blue Flight, dove down to attack an ME109G which had jumped LT ECKFELDT, Yellow 4, 1,000 ft below us. LT LATIMER's initial attack was so abrupt that he lost Blue 2 & 3, so I followed him down. E/A broke right and down and when LT LATIMER opened fire and I noticed strikes around the cockpit, canopy, fuselage, and wings. E/A headed straight down into a vertical dive with large quan tities of smoke pouring from his engine. LT LATIMER broke left and up, and I attempted to maneuver into range for a burst, when I went into compressibility. At this time the E/A was seemingly out of control going straight down entirely covered with flames. E/A was last seen in this condition going into the overcast. From my observations I am of the opinion this E/A was Destroyed as the result of LT LATIMER's attack. Edward B. Murdy 2nd Lt

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Joe Latimer of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Joe Latimer's combat experience.

Joe Latimer

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