CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat
B. Nov. 5, 1943
C. 38th Fighter Sqd. 55th Ftr. group
D. Approx. 1400
E. Approx. 50 miles east of Rotterdam
F. Clear
G. FW190
H. One FW190 - damaged.
I. I was flying on Major Joel's wing escorting 2 boxes B-24's. We were
covering 2 straggling B24's, behind the first box, at about 3000 ft. above the
stragglers. We saw 4 FW190's going up for an attack on the stragglers on
the port side. We peeled off to the left to break up the attack. The
first E/A saw us coming and half rolled and dove away. The 4th FW190
apparently in an aggressive mood, came straight on at me. I met him
head-on at about 11 o'clock from him, I opened fire at about 400 yds. range
holding fire until he was about 75 yds. (about 2,3-second bursts) observing
strikes on his left engine cowl and fuselage. He passed me doing a very
slow roll to the right, I then lost sight of him. We then zoomed back up
above the straggling bombers. The FW190 had a yellow cowl. The
underside of its wings were painted white with red crosses.
RICHARD W. FORSBLAD
2nd Lt. Air Corps
CONFIDENTIAL