Joseph Mansker

20th Fighter Group 11/02/1944


ENCOUNTER REPORT
LT. JOSEPH L. MANSKER

A. COMBAT
B. 2 NOVEMBER 1944
C. 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 20TH FIGHTER GROUP
D. APPROX. 1310 HOURS.
E. HALLE/MERSEBURG ARE
F. 9/10 CLOUD COVER
G. 3 ME 109
H. 2 ME 109 DESTROYED
   1 ME 109 PROBABLY DESTROYED
I.
   I WAS LEADING HQS. YELLOW FLIGHT.  WE WERE AT 28 OR
29,000 FEET HEADED SE WHEN I SAW 2 GAGGLES OF 75/100 E/A EACH – ONE GAGGLE BEHIND THE OTHER.  COL. MONTGOMERY TOOK HIS FLT. DOWN ON THE FIRST GAGGLE AND BROKE UP THEIR ATTACK ON THE BOMBERS.  I TOOK MY FLIGHT DOWN ON THE SECOND GAGGLE AND PICKED OUT AN A/C IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAGGLE.  I CLOSED TO POINT BLANK RANGE, FIRING AS I CLOSED.  THE E/A FLIPPED OVER AND PERHAPS ATTEMPTED A SPLIT S.  THE PILOT BAILED OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I CLAIM ONE (1) ME 109 DESTROYED.
     I CHANDELLED UP TO THE RIGHT THRU THE GAGGLE AND THEY BROKE TO THE LEFT – SPOILING AN IMMINENT ATTACK ON OUR BOMBERS.  THE WHOLE GAGGLE STARTED A 360° TURN TO GET BACK TO ATTACK THE BOMBERS.  ABOUT HALF SPLIT S’D AND WENT TO THE DECK – THE OTHER HALF STARTED A DRIVE FOR THE BOMBERS AGAIN.  WE WERE ABOVE THEM ABOUT 3,000 FEET.  I LED MY FLIGHT DOWN FOR ANOTHER PASS ON THESE ME 109’S.  I PICKED ONE OUT AND FIRED, OBSERVING STRIKES IN THE WING AND FUSELAGE.  I SAW DEBRIS FALL AWAY FROM PLANE AFTER MY ATTACK, BUT I HAD TO PULL AWAY.
            I CLAIM ONE (1) ME 109 PROBABLY DESTROYED.
     I LOST MY WING MAN AND I CLIMBED FOR ALTITUDE.  I WAS TO THE RIGHT AND HIGH, BEHIND THE LAST BOX OF B-17’S.  I SAW E/A MAKING ATTACKS ON THE BOMBERS.  I IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN AND ATTACKED ONE WHO WAS MAKING A PASS ON A B-17 TAIL.  I OPENED FIRE AND CLOSED IN ON THE ME 109 AS HE WAS FIRING AT THE BOMBER.  I ATTACKED FROM DEAD ASTERN, FIRING AS I CLOSED.  I SAW MANY STRIKES ALL OVER THE E/A.  SMOKE POURED FROM THE ME 109 AND HE STARTED A GENTLE DIVING TURN TO RIGHT, SMOKING BADLY.  FLAK WAS HEAVY AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME SO I DID NOT FOLLOW HIM DOWN.  I CLAIM ONE (1) ME 109 DESTROYED.
      J. SER NO OF A/C:  44-14749
        A/C MARKINGS :  KI-X
        AMMO EXPENDED:  814 RDS 50 CAL.

TOTAL CLAIMS:                            
   2 ME 109S DESTROYED                    
   1 ME 109  PROBABLY DESTROYED.

JOSEPH L. MANSKER
1ST LT., A.C.

                        
CONFIRMATION
I CONFIRM THE FIRST CLAIM MADE BY LT. MANSKER.  I SAW THE PILOT BAIL OUT OF THE A/C.

HARLEY L. BROWN
2ND LT., A.C.


DEAN E. ERLANDSON                        
CAPT., A.C.
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Joseph Mansker of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Joseph Mansker's combat experience.


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