Robert York
359th Fighter Group 08/09/1944
C. 3 70 th Fi ghter Squadron D . 1 1 1 5 D . Vic inity of Gunzburg F . Fair G . Me 1 0 9 H . One ( 1 ) Me 109 destroyed in air I . My high-blower was out so I had it tied up in the manual position with my neck tie. At the Group Leader's order to climb for altitude and make about a hundred degree turn to the left my neck tie slipped and my blower went out. When I had it fixed again Blue Leader was far ahead of me. A flight of about twenty (20) Me 109's came down out of the sun, turned toward me, and then changed their course from me and went after the bombers. I cleared myself and saw below me at 20,000 feet an Me 109 make a pass at a P-51 and then dive away. I rolled down and got in a burst at 50 degrees. The Me 109 split essed and dove down. I followed, gave him two bursts and saw strikes all over the fuselage with a greater concentration in the canopy section and pieces of his plane flew back at me. I followed him down and pulled up level at 800 ft 500 mph and when I last saw the E/A he was still going straight down about 500 ft below me. From the speed of his dive I believe that he couldn't pull out in time. I claim one (1) Me 109 destroyed in air. J.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Robert York of the 359th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Robert York's combat experience.
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