352nd Fighter Group 11/26/1943
ENCOUNTER REPORT
I was leading Yellow Flight about twenty miles east of Groningen at 1310 hours and flying at about 23,000 feet escorting bombers when I saw 2 B-24 stragglers directly ahead and about 5,000 feet below, with 4 e/a attacking them from the beam. I and my flight closely supported by Blue Flight went into a dive to intercept them when two of them separated as they were breaking away from their attacks on the bombers. I increased my dive to attack the second of these two who had turned to the right. Blue Flight stayed 500 to 1,000 feet above to give us cover. As the e/s started to Chandelle upwards for another pass I closed to within 300 yards of him and fired a short burst using about 100 deflection. The e/a which I identified as a ME 109 “F” or “G” with rocket guns slung under each wing, exploded with a large burst of flame and disintegrated in the air. Fragments from him flew past me in my turn and struck and damaged Yellow Four flown by Major Therriault. At this moment another e/a came into my sights. He was turning away from me but I had no difficulty in turning inside of him. I took a wide two ring shot at him using about 450 deflection which placed him out of my sight below the fuselage of my ship so saw nothing that followed. Major Ross, flying Yellow Two saw the e/s start to give off large quantities of white smoke from the right side of his cowling. At this moment I was attacked from above and the right by a third e/a so I continued my turn very steeply and found myself right head on to him. I fired a short burst head on at point blank range but saw no hits on him.
I claim one ME 109 destroyed and one ME 109 probably destroyed.
After my third encounter I turned quickly and saw this same a/c attacked by Yellow Three, flown by Capt. Dilling. Capt. Dilling was still firing and the e/a was twisting straight down obviously out of control and giving off large quantities of black smoke that obscured the entire portion of the rear of the e/a.
J. A/C Ser No. A/C Markings Ammo Exp
42-8529 HO-M 261 API
JOHN C. MEYER
Major, AC.
ROBERT H. BERKSHIRE
1st Lt. AC.
Asst. S-2 Officer.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
I was flying to the right & behind Col. Meyer when he engaged his first 190. I saw the e/a turn over & go down in flames. I then became engaged myself & with Capt. Whisner. Later on, I joined Col. Meyer as his wingman & saw him engage another FW 190 which he hit from deflection. The e/a did a wing-over, burst into flames & blew up.
KARL M. WALDRON, JR.
1st Lt, Air Corps
SEYMOUR JOSEPH
Capt, Air Corps,
S-2 Officer
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by John Meyer of the 352nd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of John Meyer's combat experience.
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