Robert Richards

A . Engagement B . 2 1 Jan uary , 19 44 C . 3 3 6 F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1 5 0 0 H ours E . Douai – Valenciennes – Arras Area. 24,000-7000 Feet. F . 5 - 6/10 cumulus G . F.W. 190's H . 1 F.W . 190 D estroyed I . Narrative: I was flying Green 2 in green section Shirtblue squadron, to my No. 1 Lt. Peterson. We were on our way out of France after a very uneventful hour and a half of stooging around seeing noting but P 38's . We were vectored to Beauvais to intercept some bandits that were in that area. When we got near there, there was nothing to be seen except a little flak. It was time to leave, and the whole group started on its way out. My No. 1 was still very keen on the way out, and I saw him put the plane on its side again. I looked down also and saw four Bogies flying south in Spitfire formation. My No. 1 started to go down. I told him over the R/T that they looked like Spits and not to go down, because I was pretty low on fuel. Evidently he did not hear me, and kept on going down. We started diving from about 24,000 feet and as we got closer I recognized them as F.W. 190's. They didn't see us until we got right on top of them, and my No. 1 started firing. Our No 3 and 4 was right behind us affording us perfect cover; also blue section led by Capt. Goodson was circling around above us giving us further cover. I saw my No. 1 fire on the No 2 190. He broke away to the right and I was watching him, because they generally pull around and come back in on your tail when you go after another one. My No. 1 overshot, and at that time another 190 came in from about 45 or 50 degrees underdeflecting all the time. I saw one 190 come in head on at me firing. I took a short burst at him. He went over the top of me. I started to pull around to get on his tail, when I saw another 190 right in front of me. I had plenty of speed and I closed in from about 100 yards firing all the time. I saw strikes all over him. He pulled up to the right to try to break into me. As he did that I laid off a little deflection above him and I hit him all over the cockpit. It looked as if the cockpit was all abalze from the strikes. I closed in to about 25 yds. and pulled off to the side to watch him go down. He peeled off smoking and headed for the deck out of control. It dawned on me that there might be more around so I pulled around to look for more. I didn't see any more around so I started for home as I was dangerousely low on fuel, and had about 75 miles to go yet to reach the French coast. I claim 1 F.W. 190 d estroyed and my No 1 Lt . K.D. Peterson confirms it.