Ray Baker

355th Fighter Group 12/05/1943


358TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

355TH FIGHTER GROUP

APO 558

 

December 7, 1944

F.O. 1374A

 

PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

 

A.  Combat

B.  Dec 5, 1944

C.  358th Fighter Squadron

D.  App. 1100

E.  Berlin

F.  9/10ths top layer, 10,000’; Bottom 3,000’.

G.  FW 190’s

H.  2 FW 190’s destroyed and 1 FW 190 damaged.

I.  On Dec 5, 1944 I was flying Bentley Yellow No 3 on Lt McElroy’s flight on a ramrod to Berlin, supporting 3rd Div. B-17’s.  App. 1045, N. of Berlin we sighted a gaggle of app. 50 plus FW 190’s flying towards Berlin from N.E. at 28,000’.  We watched the gaggle come down past us and the entire section turned in behind them.  I picked an FW 190 at the right rear of the gaggle and closed in to about 75 yds.  I throttled back, took good aim and fired, observing hits around the wing roots and fuselage.  The E/A rolled and split “S”, while I made a diving turn to the right.  I saw him go toward the clouds in a straight dive at about a 75 degree angle.  I continued my turn and started back to the rear of the gaggle.

I claim 1 FW 190 damaged.

I picked another FW 190 at the rear of the gaggle and closed to about 50 yds and throttled back again.  I hit prop wash and didn’t observe any hits at first, so I fired again and got numerous strikes on the wings and fuselage.  The E/A rolled over and started down, rolling and spiralling as he went down.  As I dived and tried to turn behind him, I found the manoeuvre increasingly violent, so I pulled out, while he rolled on down toward the clouds  At this time he appeared to be out of control.  I almost blacked out when I pulled out of this dive and lost sight of the E/A.  However my wing man saw his left wing break off just before he got to the overcast.

I claim 1 FW 190 destroyed.

I climbed back to the rear of the gaggle again and saw an FW 190 firing at a P-51 from below and slightly astern, while executing a roll at the same time.  He broke away and I cut him off in the turn.  I first fired at him from about 100 yds astern, observing hits on the fuselage and wings.  He began to dive and roll, while I followed firing.  I observed scattered hits on the wings and fuselage and a cluster of strikes at the tip of the left wing.  I also saw some tracers miss him, so I realized I was skidding and quit firing.  I watched him execute some beautiful rolls while diving almost vertically, but I just flew straight behind him waiting for a good shot.  He apparently thought he had lost me because he began to pull out of his dive.  I cut him off from above, closed to about 75 yds with app. 15 degree deflection and fired.  It seemed as though the entire burst went into the area of the cockpit, forward cowling, and wing roots.  He began to spin to the right.  His turn appeared to be uncoordinated and he slowed down.  I almost collided with him as he came skidding over beside me.  I was very close to him and saw much battle damage in the cockpit area.  He kept spinning and large pieces, including the canopy, fell off the plane.  When he failed to bail out, I closed up fairly close, and couldn’t see anyone in the cockpit.  The E/A was still spinning and I couldn't get a very clear view.  I decided that the pilot had bailed out and broke off the attack.  The E/A continued to spin until it disappeared into the clouds.  I looked for a parachute but failed to see one.  I now believe that the pilot had been hit and was slumped over in the cockpit.  I climbed back up to 30,000’ but all E/A had disappeared.  During all these violent manoeuvers my wing man, Lt McCollom had stuck close to me, keeping my tail clear.

 

(OVER)

 

I claim this FW 190 destroyed.

 

 

RAY G. BAKER,

1st Lt, AC.

 

Supporting Statement for Lt Baker’s Claim

On Dec 5, 1944 I was flying Bentley Yellow No 4 on Lt Baker’s wing.  I saw him engage 3 FW 190’s in combat.  Lt Baker closed on one E/A at the rear of a gaggle.  He fired and damaged it.  Following this I saw Lt Baker engage a second FW 190 which then began to spiral towards the overcast just prior to his entering the overcast.  I saw the left wing break off at a point near the fuselage.  Lt Baker then engaged a third FW 190.  He fired at the E/A several times, the last time at a close range and slightly above the E/A.  I observed many hits around the cockpit and wing roots.  After this the FW 190 went into an uncontrollable violent spin.  Pieces of the aircraft came off and so did the canopy.  The E/A continued into the overcast in this violent spin.  I wish to confirm two FW 190’s destroyed and 1 damaged by Lt Baker.

 

 

FRANCIS N. MCCOLLOM,

1ST Lt, AC.

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Ray Baker of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Ray Baker's combat experience.


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