Leslie Smith

Captain Leslie C . Smith Halstead White One a . Combat b . 9 April, 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1 1 30 hours e . E ast of Neumunster f . V is ibility good – 2/10 high cirrus g . Me -109 h . Me -109 destroyed i . I was leading Halstead squadron of 8 ships and we were escorting the only B-17 box that continued their mission. We stayed with the big friends until about 10 minutes past our break off time. we saw contrails high, just east of Kiel at about 1120 and flew down there just in time to see the enemy make an attack on some P-47's below them. Our altitude was about 20,000. We started following about 3 of the enemy which were Me-109's. A P-47 shot and hit one ((the pilot was Capt. J.

H. Powers of the 62nd)) and shortly after I saw a parachute open. I followed one of the 109's to about 1,000 ft. where I fired at him from about 300 yds. My first few r ounds missed and then I got strikes on the right wing and the right side of the fuselage. I was going too fast to stay behind long and as I went by I saw the canopy come off. I came so close to the plane I could look into the open cockpit and see the pilot. I made another attack immediately and saw more strikes. I turned again for a third attack just as the plane rolled over and started for the ground about 500 feet below. I fired again just for good measure and my bullets hit the ground and the plane just as the plane crashed and blew up. The pilot had bailed out after the second attack and his chute opened after I had fired the third time. He was very close to his plane and it is poss ible I may have hit him while he was floating down. I did not intend to shoot at the helpless pilot . He landed and seemed to lie on his back while the chute dragged him along the ground. My wing man and I climbed back up to 14,000 feet and started home. I claim one Me -109 d estroyed . j. 777 rds .50 cal A.P.I.