Roland Vincent
355th Fighter Group 11/13/1943
THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOURTH FIGHTEER SQUADRON
THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIFTH FIGHTER GROUP
AAF STATION F-122, A.P.O. 637
U.S. ARMY
ENCOUNTER REPORT
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COMBAT.
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13 November 1943.
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354th Fighter Squadron.
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1225.
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10 miles West of Meppen.
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Visibility aloft good; in sections Cumulus stacked from 2000 to 15000. Combat fought in clear patch with no clouds.
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Me 109
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DESTROYED: Exploded on contact with ground.
I. Lt Neal, my wingman, and I were up behind the bombers closing behind them. Lt Neal, who was on my right reported two Bogeys at nine o'clock and high, and I acknowledged the call. We were at an altitude of 26000 to 27000 feet, level with the bombers. The sun was at 10:00 o'clock. The two E/A were edging in. We tightened up from an easy left turn when we saw them. When they were coming I called to Lt Neal to break left, and then pulled steep left and saw the lead E/A firing. Then the 109 half-rolled and I started chase. At the time he started his half-roll, the E/A was level with me. I chased him, closed, and started shooting, seeing strikes on the fuselage, underneath and on the wing roots. I pulled up right; came down on his tail again, closed, and fired again, this time seeing strikes and white smoke from the vicinity of the wing roots, on the right side. It was the radiator, I think. All this time the E/A was in a dive and a slight bank. I came in close again and fired. This time I noticed strikes and tracers. At 2000 feet I pulled out and eased up left. The E/A went on into the ground and exploded. I didn't see the pilot bail out.
I went into the clouds at 2000-3000 to come home but went back to the ground when I saw the clouds were unsuitable. Just inside the Zuider Zee, I saw a big Bogey to the left. It turned out to be a B24 spiralling (sic) down. I took pictures. He was at about 1500 and seemed to be under control. I looked to the right and saw a white parachute, took some more pictures, went to the deck and came home.
CLAIM: Me 109 DESTROYED.
ROLAND L. VINCENT
1st Lt, Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Roland Vincent of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Roland Vincent's combat experience.
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