20th Fighter Group 08/09/1944
ENCOUNTER REPORT
CAPT. ROBERT J. MEYER
a. Combat
b. 9 August 1944
c. 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group
d. 1045
e. S/W/ Ulm
f. 3/10 overcast. Heavy haze and scattered
clouds up to cloud base at 22,000 feet.
g. FW 190
h. 2 FW 190s Destroyed
1 FW 190 Damaged
i.
I was leading the Squadron on a sweep after our bombers had aborted. Almost simultaneously we spotted 40 plus FW 190’s off on our left and 15 plus attacking a box of B-17’s on our right. I was at 20,000 feet. Red Section turned into the 40 on our left and I took white section into a right turn to protect the bombers. The E/A were at 18,000 feet. I got on the tail of a 190 and fired a 2 second burst, 10° deflection, form 250-175 yards. Saw strikes in cockpit before E/A split S’d and went out of my sight. I didn’t follow him as just then I saw two others flying line abreast in a dive at 15,000 feet.
I got dead astern the left of these two and fired a 2 second burst getting hits on cockpit and wing roots. At this point I was forced to make a right turn as the 2nd of these two was on my tail. Upon completion of this turn I was on his tail. I must have chased him for 5 minutes down to 5,000 feet always firing from 300 to 100 yards. I was unable to see any strikes. At 1,000 feet he snap rolled and bailed out.
I claim 2 FW 190’s Destroyed and 1 FW 190 Damaged.
j. Ser. No. of A/C: 44-13876
A/C Marking: MC-T
Ammunition Expended: 770 rds. 50 cal.
ROBERT J. MEYER
Capt., Air Corps
CONFIRMATION OF CLAIMS
I was flying Capt. Meyer’s wing when he destroyed the first 190 mentioned above. He scored strikes in cockpit and on the wings before the E/A rolled over and crashed into the ground.
WESLEY H. TAYLOR
2nd Lt., Air Corps
I was flying White 3 when Capt. Meyer got on the tail of a 190. I saw strikes on the cockpit and left wing root. The 190 rolled over as Capt. Meyer set out after another E/A and went straight down crashing into a small town below. I verify the 1st claim mentioned in Capt. Meyer’s statement.
F. EDWARD LARKING ALBERT S. LEARNED
Capt., Air Corps 1st Lt., Air Corps
Intelligence Officer
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Robert Meyer of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Robert Meyer's combat experience.
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