Samuel Hamilton

1st Lt. Samuel

D. Hamilton Jr. Halstead Red Three a . Combat b . 6 February , 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Fighter Group d . 1125 hours e . Near Paris f . Overcast 5 , 000 feet g . Me - 10 9 h . One Me - 10 9 d estroyed i . I was flying Halstead Red three with Lt. Powers leading the flight . Capt. Lamb, squadron leader, called in six Me-109's flying at about 6,000 ft. while we were at 20,000 ft. Red flight covered him as Capt. Lamb let down to position himself for an attack on the lead two. Lt. Powers selected the leader of the second pair of 109's for his target at about 12,000 ft. The attack was completed at about 5,000 ft. and I saw the 109 slowly roll over to the left and head straight down with plenty of smoke coming from his engine. The number two 109 of this pair broke right and went into the overcast. The second pair were not in a position for us to attack. Later while flying at about 20,000 ft. in the Paris area, we saw some e/a slightly below and turned left to investigate them. Capt. Lamb made a diving attack but did not press the attack as there were some 6 e/a above at 28,000 ft. As Red flight came in, Lt. Powers and his wing man pulled up and the e/a up there began breaking down and away. I chose the leader of the original six 109's that were climbing in very loose string formation. They were in a turn to the left and had they continued the turn I could not have pressed my attack, because the others would have been on my tail. However, after one burst the leader reversed his turn and I did press the attack. After several attempts I hit him with a good burst along the wing roots with slight deflection from astern and he caught fire. We were at approximately the same altitude. He then slowly rolled to the left and the last I saw of him he was going down in a 60 o dive still on fire. I joined Lt. Roberts, White three, who had been engaged in the same area and came home with him. I claim one Me - 109 destroyed and confirm one Me - 109 d estroy ed for Lt. Powers . j. 1022 rds . 50 cal A.P.I. See Encounter Report of Lt. R.W. Roberts.