Robert Johnson

a . Combat b . 30 January, 1943 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Group d . 1 315 to 133 0 hours e . 5 to 10 miles East of Lingen f . Low overcast – tops 4 – 6,000 ft; high scattered clouds at 18 to 20,000 feet. Good visibility. g . Me-210 and Me-109-G h . Me-210 d estroyed , Me-109-G destroyed i . I was leading Blue flight in Halstead squadron. At 27,000 ft. just a little before r/v, I was 500 ft. below Halstead leader at 4 o'clock to him. I saw and reported 12+ t/e e/a at 9 o'clock to us 10 to 15,000 ft. below heading north toward the bombers near Lingen . We started down on them but someone beat us to them and they pulled up and left in a chandelle and then headed for the clouds about 8,000 feet below. I spotted a single Me-210 500 ft. above the clouds. I flew up sun and dove from the sun to 8,000 ft. from about 16,000 ft. directly behind him and opened fire at about 300 yds. Strikes were seen all over him. His right engine immediately caught fire and pieces flew off. He nosed straight down going to pieces. I had 400 mph on the clock and zoomed back to 15,000 feet. I then saw a dog fight 5 miles behind the bombers on top of the clouds and headed that way. I saw one aircraft go down burning. I couldn't identify it except as a s/e. Then as I got there they broke off the fighting. I was at about 16,000 ft. at that time, about 1320. I saw 3 s/e e/a going south on the top of the clouds at about 6 to 8,000 ft. One of the e / a pulled to the west and climbed. I went down on the 2 e/a still going south, watching the e/a to my right. My 2 nd element gave me perfect cover. I closed to 300 yards, closing fast and opened fire. The aircraft went to pieces as I closed to 100 yards and tried to get the e/a on his left but was going too fast and barely missed him as I pulled over him. My No. 2 man fired at him. I do not know whether he hit or not as I pulled up. About 1325 and about 5 miles west of Lingen as we climbed back to 16,000, a FW 190 with in line engine came down out of the sun from 9 o'clock to us. It had square wing tips and a long thin blunt nose. I watched him for several seconds and broke left andup into him. I was n early headon with him and he broke off and down with me on his tail. He got in the tops of the clouds and I pulled up where he could see me and kept his attention while my 2 nd element, led by Lt. Joe

H. Powers slipped up behind him. Lt. Powers closed to 200 yds. and I was a bit eager and was afraid Lt. Powers was going to be seen and began to yell "Now, Joe, Now." But about that time I saw strikes all over the FW and he went to pieces as he went over on his back at 4,000 ft. and went into a split "s" burning into the clouds. I claim an Me-210 and an Me-109-G destroyed and confirm one FW-190 with inline engine d estroyed for Lt. Joe H . Powers. j. 834 rds . 50 cal A.P. &

I. See Encounter Report of 1 st Lt. Joe

H. Powers Jr.