Robert Johnson

a . Combat b . 20 February, 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Fighter Group d . 1 250 h ou rs e . West of Hanover, about 10 miles south of Steinhuder Lake f . Haze at 25,000, low cloud tops at 4,000 g . M e-110 h . 2 Me-110's d estroyed , 2 Me-110's damaged i . I was flying Keyworth Blue leader and in the vicinity of Steinhuder Lake when 13 Me-110's were reported at 8 o'clock to us at about 12,000 ft. while we were at 24,000. We let down to about 17,000 and started our pass. The Me-110's were flying echeloned to the right. White flight was to my right and slightly ahead. I pulled up abreast with Capt. J.R. Carter and saw a large explosion and a sheet of flame in the Me-110 that he was firing on. I opened fire at 5 or 600 yds as they started breaking up to the left. I got excited and started firing at the lead plane and then the next, getting only 2 or 3 strikes in the tail of the 1 st and 2 or 3 strikes in the wing of the 2 nd . Then one Me-110 pulled directly in front of me at about 200 yds. I fired and saw strikes all over him and closed to 7 5 yds and passed him as he blew up. I spotted another 110 5 or 6,000 feet below me. I started down on him, opening fire at 800 yds. I got strikes on the cockpit and was closing to finish him. I hit him again as he went in a cloud but I decided to make sure of him. I followed beneath the cloud to about 2,000 ft . and saw him in a slight right hand turn as he hit the ground and blew up. Fire and black smoke poured up through the clouds. This last one was south of Steinhuder Lake and slightly south and west of Hanover. Just before I started firing at my first e/a, I saw the Col. f ire at an Me-110. It exploded. As I pulled up from my last pass and was at 8/9,000 ft. trying to join Col. Gabreski and his flight, he went down on another Me-110 which was on top of the clouds at about 4,000 ft. I saw the e/a catch fire and two chutes appeared. Then I saw one Me-109 smoking slightly going east at 5,000 ft. toward H annover (I was at 9 , 000). I started down on him and closed to 500 yds as he went into the clouds. Because I didn't have much ammunition, I was going to close on him before firing. I then rejoined the Col. a nd proc eeded home. I claim 2 Me-110's d estroyed and 2 Me-110's damaged . I confirm 2 Me-110's destroyed by Lt. Col. Gabreski and one Me-110 destroyed by Capt. Carter.