NORMAN OLSON

A . Combat B . February 20, 1944 C . 3 5 7 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1 4 22 E . Siegen F . 10/10 cumulus at 4 ,000ft , slight haze at 15,000ft G . 1 ME - 109F destroyed I . ACCOUNT OF COMBAT: I was leading Blowball y ellow f light . We Rv with the bombers at about 22,000ft. Red leader started a pass at several 109's going thru the bombers. The e/a split and I took my flight after two of the 109's. They had too much start on us and after diving to about 14,000ft, I saw that pursuit was useless and pulled up in a climbing turn. We climbed to about 20,000ft when my wingman who turned out to be the original # 3 called in a bogie at 11 o'clock low. I did not see the bogie so I called my wingman and told him to take the e/a and I would cover. He boun ced the 109 and took him down to the overcast, firing periodically. I was well occupied covering our tails, but from time to time I could see strikes as Lt. Johnston fired. He followed the e/a into the clouds and I pulled up and circled waiting for him to come out. When Lt. Johnston reappeared at 3 o'clock to me, we started climbing again. I saw a 109 at 10 o'clock to me and bounced him from out of the sun after ma neuvering up sun from him. I opened fire at 250 yards and observed many strikes on the wing roots and fuselage and an explosion in the right wing. I closed to 150 yards and could see that we would soon be in the clouds so I opened fire again and held it for several seconds. I observed many strikes and another explosion in the right wing and pieces began to fly from the e/a . As it started to enter the clouds I continued to fire and suddenly his tail came off and he went through the clouds in a vertical dive. At this time my air speed read almost 500 MPH. I zoomed up into a climbing turn and Lt. Johnston rejoined me and we joined with 4 P-47's to our right and came home.