WWII Pilot Combat Report - RAYMOND SMITH

RAYMOND SMITH

78th Fighter Group 03/15/1944

84TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 78TH FIGHTER GROUP U.S. Field Order No. 269 Combat

15 March 1944 84th Fighter Squadron 1215 hours West of Munster, Germany 7 to 10/10ths low cloud – visibility, excellent ME 109 One (1) ME 109 destroyed Narrative: I was flying Bayland Yellow Three in Lt. Q. L. Brown's flight. After leaving the bombers, we were homeward bound when we saw three ME 109Gs coming down from above at one o'clock on us. Lt. Brown immediately turned and went after them. One went straight on down and got away, but the other two began evasive action. Lt. Brown took the left one and I took the right one. I started after him, at about 10,000 feet, and began firing at 300 yards, closing rapidly until at about 50 feet I broke slightly left and above to keep from colliding with him. He was engaged in violent evasive action. I had seen no strikes until just as I broke to keep from hitting him. I saw a spurt of flame from the engine and immediately the plane from the engine back was enveloped in flame and smoke. I was going close to 500 MPH and began pulling out at about 6,000 feet. As I pulled out below 2,000 feet and zoomed back up, I saw the 109 go past, still in flames and going straight down at a terrific speed. I didn't see him actually crash but as he was below 2,500 feet, in flames, and going straight down, turning slightly (sort of a very slow vertical roll) at well over 400 MPH, I am claiming a ME 109 destroyed.

RAYMOND E. SMITH 1st Lieut., Air Corps

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by RAYMOND SMITH of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of RAYMOND SMITH's combat experience.

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