JOSEPH KRUZEL
361st Fighter Group 04/29/1944
B. 29-4-44.
C. 375th Fighter Squadron
D. 1245
E. Near Steinhuder Lake
F. 7/10 clouds, at 10,000 feet.
G. ME 109
H. 1 ME 109 Destroyed.
I. I was leading the Group flying as Cadet White Leader. I arrived at the R/V point in the vicinity of Steinhuder Lake, but was unable to locate the bombers who were late. At this point, 1245, I was flying East at 21,000 feet when I decided to make an orbit to port – before completing the 360° orbit and while still in a left turn, I spotted two bogies who had just passed below me flying East in close formation at about 13,000 feet. I notified my flight I was going down on a bounce, did a left wing-over and throttled back as I dove on the E/A. When about 3,000 feet astern of the E/A, I identified them as ME 109's, and told my wing man, Lt. Rames, to take the one on the left while I took the one on the right. I held my fire until I closed to about 100 yards astern of the E/A giving him a two second burst – I observed strikes on his right wing just before he exploded into flames. I pulled up over him to the right, saw pieces come off this E/A as it went down still in flames, and watched him until he hit in an open field. The pilot did not get out. As I pulled up to the right after firing, I also saw the E/A that Lt. Rames fired at go into a steep dive trailing a long stream of smoke. About 30 seconds later I observed a chute, which I presumed to be the pilot of the E/A that Lt. Rames shot down.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JOSEPH KRUZEL of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JOSEPH KRUZEL's combat experience.
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