Leslie Smith

Major Leslie C . Smith Whippet White One a . Combat (air) b . 1 9 Ma y, 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1 3 3 5 - 1350 e . N. Wernigerode to Ascher sleben f . 5 /10 l ow cumulus g . Two FW-190 's h . Two FW-190's destroyed i . I was leading Whippet Squadron and after several abortive attempts to attack enemy planes near the bombers, we saw about 15 FW's to the rear of a C/W of B-24's at about 23,000 ft. We went at them head on and below them. We had no trouble out climbing them, and as they turned to the left and split up into 3 flights of 5 each we came down behind them. I picked out a straggler and closed on him slowly. At about 400 yds I opened fire and he started taking violent evasive action. When he leveled out each time I would fire. Three times I saw many strikes on the fuselage and smoke and pieces came off each time. After my third burst the plane was smoking very badly and the plane slowly rolled over on its back and started straight down smoking badly. There were still three e/a left in front of me so I immediately attacked the closest, without watching my first enemy plane. I tried to figure out his evasive action and shoot when he was vulnerable. I missed with two or three bursts from about 300 yds then I hit him good from about 200 yds. He rolled over and turned under me and headed for the deck with the other two. My flight now consisted of 3 planes as Lt. Heineman was down below fighting with another enemy. We followed the 3 e/a for a long time. They dove into a little cloud and we followed. The plane I had already hit was lagging behind so I closed on him. He suddenly pulled up very violently – pulling vapor trails from his wings. We followed and got above him. He then turned back to the west, rolled over and bailed out. His plane went straight in and blew up. I switched on the camera and got a picture of the burning plane. We flew right past the enemy pilot who was floating down in his chute. We had lost the other two enemy planes, so started home as my number 4 man was very low on gas. I claim two FW-190's d estroyed . j. 872 rds .50 cal A.P.I.