Walter Beckham

A. Combat

B. 3 February, 1944

C. 351st Fighter Squadron

D. 1100 hours

E. Vicinity South of Oldenburg

F. 7/10 cirrus at 22,000 feet, and 10/10 stratocumulus at 7,000 feet

G. Me 109 and FW 190

H. One Me 109 and one FW 190 destroyed.

I. I was leading Roughman White Flight, flying with about ten of the 350th Squadron planes. Twelve plus Me 109s, at least a thousand feet above us, came from our three o'clock as we were flying northward. Even with their altitude advantage they made no effort to attack us, but tried only to escape. We turned into them, swinging on around in about a 270 degree turn to the right and gave chase. In this case the P-47 definitely outclimbed (29,000 to 32,000 feet) the 109, outturned and outdived it. As we climbed and closed the 109s to the rear began half-rolling by ones and twos. P-47 gave chase, I waited until the lead planes dived and followed one down in an almost vertical dive. I cut throttle to avoid compressibility, but stayed about the same distance from the 109. Opened throttle and closed, fired and got hits and pieces. Got more strikes after this and don't believe the pilot was able to get out. I pulled out and saw the 109 continues straight down into the cloud layer at 7,000 feet at a speed in excess of 400 M.P.H. Used my high speed to zoom back up to 15,000 feet. At this altitude, between two cloud layers, seven FW 190s passed in front of me at right angles to my line of flight. They were in good formation; a flight of three leading, a flight of four behind slightly, and to the right. I turned right, closed easily, and fired from astern on the one on the extreme right. Got strikes and pieces including the canopy. Flame from the engine extended along the ft side of the fuselage, and the plane spun. The two flights of three each flew serenely along as I nosed down into the clouds and set course for home at about 6,500 feet. Their lack of awareness of this episode leads me to believe that with more ammunition I might have moved up and destroyed several others. My guns had not stopped firing, but I had fired a burst or so after the tracers appeared that indicate there are only 50 rounds in each of four guns. My electric sight being insecurely fastened and moving around made good shooting difficult and ammunition expenditure was wasteful. I found it necessary to move the stick back and forth slightly as I fired; thus throwing away a lot of bullets. The gun sight trouble is now corrected.