Lyle Adrianse

A. Combat

b. 22 February 1944

c. 63rd Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group

d. 1335 hours

e. Raderborn

f. 3-4/10 at 3,000 Feet

g. Me 110

h. 1 Me 110 destroyed

i. I was leading Northgrove Red Flight (Captain Adrianse, Lts. Lovett, Wisniewski, Wakefield) behind Capt. Vogt, who was leading White Flight. Major Stewart who was leading the group had an engagement around the first box of bombers so consequently only fourteen airplanes penetrated the first box in enough to engage the enemy. Upon meeting the bombers going on through the entire box of bombers. We immediately worked in towards these 109's and in doing so spotted about 15 Me 110's also heading in toward the bombers from 9 o'clock preparation to attacks. They apparently saw us and started to scatter in all directions in steep-diving turns. I immediately attacked one that was turning to the right in a sharp dive from approximately 21,000 feet. Upon closing my range his left gunner opened fire and he broke sharply to the left. I gave him about 3 rings lead which put him out of sight under my cowling and opened fire twice rapidly. I then ceased fire and rolled out of my turn to take another look at him to find that he was smoking and going in a straight dive. I opened fire again from dead astern at 300 yards, breaking off at 100 yards. I saw another striker on the fuselage, left wing, engine and tail. Several large pieces fell off of the left wing and I was obliged to pull up through steam, large dents in my own cowling. I then broke up into the sun from about 4,000 feet and looking back I saw the left engine flaming furiously and he entered the cloud at 3,000 feet going straight down. This Me 110 looked as though it came out of the factory, as the camouflage looked newly painted and had no markings. Climbed back up to 22,000 where I was bounced by a Me 109. After two turns I gained the advantage and he hit the deck. I could not follow as I was very low on fuel at this time, and headed out. On the way back I picked up the other three men in my flight who had become separated, and landed at base safely. It is my opinion that we could have had a field day if we had not been hampered by lack of numbers due to flying a twenty-four ship Group. Numerous Me 110's, 109's, and FW 190's got away unscatched. I claim one Me 110 definitely destroyed.