343rd FIGHTER SQUADRON
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat - confirmation of damage
B. November 13, 1943
C. 343rd Fighter Squadron
D. 1200
E. Ten miles west of Bremen
F. CAVU - seven-tenths to nine-tenths at about 17,000 feet
G. ME 109
H.
I. I was flying as Capt. Ryan's wingman at about fifty yards behind and to one
side. I noticed a P-38 being pursued by a (sic.) ME 109. This
approximately three miles north of us at our level. Capt. Ryan saw the
predicament of the P-38 pilot and started for the ME 109. He made a left
hand diving turn to get on the tail of the ME 109 as they were slightly lower by
now. I had fallen back to about 75 yards behind Capt. Ryan and a little
above when he started firing on the ME 109. The ME 109 was so intent on
following the P-38 he did not notice Capt. Ryan, who was in position to start
shooting at about 200 yards, He closed to 125 yards about ten degrees
deflection still shooting when I noticed an explosion on the ME 109 which
promptly started down in a steep bank to the left. I was still in
the same position behind Capt. Ryan and the last I saw of the ME 109 he was
going almost straight down trailing smoke, and about 5,000 feet directly below.
There was no parachute and he was apparently out of control. I confirm
Capt. Ryan's claim for a (sic.) ME 109 destroyed.
Richard C. Stanton
2nd Lt. Air Corps.