LEROY Ista

353rd Fighter Group 11/05/1943

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A. Combat B. 5 November 1943 C. 352nd Fighter Squadron D. 1320 E. Gelsenkirchen, 27,000 to 24,000 feet F. Slight haze, no clouds G. Me 109 H. One Me 109 destroyed I. I was flying Wakeford Red #2 position. We made R/V just as a flight of 109s were starting to bounce the bombers from behind. White flight bounced them and they split sd. Another E/A approached from 9 o'clock to the bombers and red flight got him off white flight's tail. In the sharp turn I was approaching from 90 to the bounce. I fired a short burst at the E/A and flew through our flight and was thrown wide. I pulled up and saw a flight of 5 109s attempting to bounce the bombers from 9 o'clock. I was about 1000 feet above and 3000 yards away so I made a head on attack to break them up. I fired a short burst at the leader. Saw no hits. I didn't have enough deflection so I pulled around and got on their tails at about 3000 yards. I closed to about 2000 yards and another flight of 4 7s bounced them so I pulled up over the top. One 109 pulled out and I got on his tail at about 500 yards. I closed to 300 fired a five second burst from 10 deflection. No hits were visible. Closed to about 200 yards firing as I went. I was then at about 100 yards and slightly below and kept on closing and opened fire at 150 feet, still closing. I fired a 3 second burst which struck fair in the wing section from outside of the cannon and all over the center section and all over the bottom of the fuselage. A large flash about 3 feet in diameter appeared about 45 feet forward of the tail. The pilot did a quick roll to the right and I passed over him. He was smoking badly all over the center section and it appeared like ammunition in the right wing was on fire. I pulled up and climbed back up and did tight climbing turns. I was alone in the sky then except for one E/A which I tried to get into position to attack. I then observed the E/A I had fired on (a 109) go on down trailing a huge column of smoke. He appeared to be doing a slow turn to the left going straight down. Then the nose came up somewhat, and it went over on its back and went straight down. I did not see an explosion but I did see a large column of black smoke coming from the end of the smoke trail which went to the ground. As I was climbing to get into position to attack, 3 109s attempted to bounce me at 26,000 from 7 o'clock and above. I gave it the gate and climbed into the sun. They managed to close to about 1000 yards. I think they fired at me but I climbed away from them. I climbed to 36,000 feet and tried to rejoin my group but could not find them so started home. Three planes were above me pulling contrails so I climbed to 39,000 feet and went out at that altitude. I make a claim of one Me 109 destroyed. LEROY W. Ista, 1st Lt. AC, 352nd FS.

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by LEROY Ista of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of LEROY Ista's combat experience.

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  353rd Fighter Group