STANLEY MORRILL
56th Fighter Group 01/05/1944
b. 5 January 1944
c. 62nd. Fighter Squadron
d. Approx. 1200 hours
e. Vicinity Duren
f. 8/10 cloud
g. Me 109
h. One Me 109 claimed destroyed i . " I was flying Yellow Four and we were escorting the bombers away from the target. At the time, no e/a were visible so the squadron circled at 28,000 feet. After the bombers had started home, in the vicinity of Duren, I spotted ten Me 109's below me and off to my left, at 22,000 feet. I called them in but evidently my transmission was not heard, so I started down to attack. Just as I was about 2,000 yards away from the last two stragglers I saw another Me 109 coming out of a cloud layer. It was painted a light blue and carried a belly tank. Flying off to my right, he appeared to be a better target, so I skidded over and got on his tail. I opened fire at 300 yards and closed rapidly. Heavy strikes were seen all over both wings and the fuselage and, as I closed to about 100 years, the e/a exploded and large pieces flew off in all directions. As I flew through the huge ball of flame and smoke that was thrown up, I saw that the Jerry's right wing had come off and the main body of the a/c was tumbling down, and over end, on fire. I saw no chute as he disappeared into the overcast at 13,000 feet. My speed at the time of the attack was about 300 m.p.h., indicated, at an altitude of 18,000 feet. Circling back, I saw the other e/a split- S'ing down through the clouds. I claim one Me 109 destroyed."
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by STANLEY MORRILL of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of STANLEY MORRILL's combat experience.
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