WWII Pilot Combat Report - Joe Mason

Joe Mason

352nd Fighter Group 02/24/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT Combat 24 February 1 944 328 th Fighter Squadron 1225 Vicinity of Schwagstorf CAVU ME 109 1 ME 109 dest royed

Narrative: I was flying with White Flight, Turndown Squadron, leading the 352 nd Fighter Group, and covering the penetration of B-24s. While approaching on the port side and a little above one combat wing of B-24s in vicinity of Schwagstorf at 24,000 ft, 1225 hours, I saw four ME 109s as they were completing a head-on attack through the bombers. Immediately I made a diving 180 0 starboard turn and signaled out one of the ME 109s. I chased this e/a in a steep dive and he began to take violent evasive action. I fired two short bursts at extreme range with no hits. At about 10,000 ft, the ME 109 broke his dive pulling up into a climbing turn, forcing me to take similar action. In this maneuver, I momentarily lost sight of the e/a and when I again sighted the ME 109, it was making another steep zig-zagging dive. I followed the e/a down to the deck, closing rapidly and observed periodic strikes. The ME 109 leveled of f on the deck and I was able to pull in line astern and a little above him closing into about 300 yds range. My fire observed striking village on ground and numerous hits on e/a. While still astern in level flight on deck, strikes were observed all over the ME 109, and he began to burn, making a right roll and crashed to the ground. I pulled up immediately in a climbing port turn and on looking back, saw this e/a disintegrate, covered with flames in an open field. I continued to climb back to altitude with my flight and withdrew back to our base. I claim one ME 109 destroyed.

J. A/C Ser No. A/C Markings Ammo Exp 4 2 - 84 6 6 PZ-M 1 195 rds . JOE L. MASON Colonel, A ir C orps , Commanding, 352 Fighter Group OTTO A. ZIEBELL Capt, A ir C orps, S-2 Officer . A TRUE COPY: GERALD F. COSTELLO Captain, Air Corps, Asst A-2, 67 FW. (D- 3 )

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Joe Mason of the 352nd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Joe Mason's combat experience.

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