Robert Johnson

a . Combat b . 31 Decem ber, 1943 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Group d . 1 4 00 hrs e . North of St. Gilles f . Good visibility, low scattered clouds, 5/10 coverage tops at 4,000 feet g . 2 FW-190's h . 2 FW-190's d estroyed i . I was flying as Keyworth Yellow leader. I was circling the front two boxes of bombers when one of the other flights called bandits in below at 6 o'clock. I was then 19,000 feet going north with the bombers. I rolled over on my back and saw 2 FW-190's directly underneath at about 14,000 feet attacking the low box of bombers head on. I looked behind them and counted 4 more in string behind them. I aileron rolled down and took the last one. I pulled away when they got near the bombers. I saw one direct hit on one of the bombers as the FW's flew through them. I swung left with my flight and picked them up as they dived from the rear of the bombers to the left. One of the bandits turned right and up. As I went on after the other 5, my number 3 and number 4 kept this one off our tails. They were leaving us so I added throttle and gained quickly. Again I picked the last one. It looked like they were going into the clouds so I opened fire at about 800 or 900 yards. I missed the first short burst and raised my sight. I saw strikes and pieces come off. He split S'd and dived into the ground from about 4,000 feet. I picked the number 4 FW-190 next because the 5 th one dived immediately into the clouds. I fired at about the same range and saw an explosion and pieces came off. He dropped his left wing and went straight into the ground. By this time the leader pulled up to the left and I found out I only had one man with me. I banked right to see if my tail was clear and having much more speed than they I zoomed for the leader. He immediately rolled to the right and the others followed him. They all went to the deck and under the clouds. I made a zoom climb and leveled out about 14,000 feet at 250 mph. I then pulled into a tight left turn and saw an ME-109 going into the sun at about 16,000 feet on out tails. I gave it the throttle and headed into him. Apparently he was in a hurry for he kept going due east as if he never saw us. We then rejoined the bombers and headed home. I never saw the pilots bail out. I claim 2 FW-190's d estroyed . j. 612 rds . 50 cal