Robert Stoltz

361st Fighter Group 02/24/1944

---

HEADQUARTERS 361ST FIGHTER GROUP

APO # 637           U.S. ARMY

E N C O U N T E R   R E P O R T

A.  Combat

B.  24 – 2 – 44, F.O. 250

C.  374th Fighter Squadron

D.  1215

E.  Dummer Lake Vicinity

F.  C.A.V.A.

G.  2-1 ME 109G destroyed; 1 ME 110 damaged on the ground

H.  ME 109G

I.  I was flying Hubbard Red 3 in Dummer Lake vicinity at 25,000 ft on an easterly course.  Goldsmith reported bandits on lead box.  The Squadron immediately investigated and a bogie was observed crossing our course from 9 o’clock about 8,000 ft below.  I called Hubbard Red Leader to cover me and went down to investigate bogie who was losing altitude in a slight right turn.  I approached from dead astern and identified plane as ME 109G.  I closed rapidly and fired a short burst at approximately 300 yards observing strikes on the fuselage near the cockpit.  I broke under him turning sharply to the left, cleared my tail, and came in for another pass from dead astern noticing the E/A was smoking slightly.  I opened fire at 300 yards with only a short burst and observed no strikes.  E/A was losing altitude slowly and still in a slight right turn.  I raised my sights and fired another short burst at 100 yds observing strikes along the fuselage near the cockpit.  As I broke under his right wing I saw his canopy fly off.  On my third pass I opened fire at 300 yds from dead astern and closing to 100 yds.  While firing I saw pilot bail out and his chute opened off my left wing about 400 yds away.  E/A went into a steep dive and crashed.  At no time did the E/A make any evasion action.  I claim this E/A as destroyed.  The encounter brought me down to 4,000 ft and no other E/A being in sight I called Hubbard Red Leader that I was going home on the deck.  Flying 0 Altitude on a course of 270, I approached an airdrome believed to be Bramsche approximately 20 miles east of Rheine.  Two twin-engine, twin-tail E/A believed to be ME 110’s were parked along the taxi strip.  I changed course about 15 to the starboard and opened fire at 400 yds closing to 150 yds and observed strikes on fuselage and cockpit of nearest E/A.  I claim this E/A as damaged.  I changed to my original course and continued on home.  Approximately 5 minutes later I noticed a goods train cutting my course from the port side at an angle of 15 degrees.  I altered my course to intercept the locomotive and opened fire at 450 yds, closing to 200 yds.  I noticed strikes on the cab on the starboard side.  I claim this locomotive as damaged.  I continued on home keeping a sharp lookout for other targets of opportunity.

Robert J. Stolzy

1st Lt. A.C.

 

 

---

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Robert Stoltz of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Robert Stoltz's combat experience.

---

  361st Fighter Group