CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat.
B. 13 November 1943.
C. 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
D. 1200.
E. Near Bremen.
F. Clear with low clouds.
G. 109 G
H. Probably destroyed.
I. I was flying Captain Myer's
(sic.) wing weaving over the last box of bombers when we sighted a JU 88
approaching the box of bombers from astern. Captain Myers dived on the JU
88 and I followed him down. I saw the JU 88 fire his rockets and break off
to the right. Captain Myers fired on the 88 and I observed smoke come from
the right engine. At the same time A (sic.) ME 109 came in on Captain
Myers from 4 o'clock. I fired on this plane and called for Captain Myers
to break left. I observed smoke pouring from the 109 as I broke off to
follow my flight leader. Captain Myers called me and said there was a 109
on my tail, at the same time I could feel strikes on my plane. I took
violent evasive maneuvers (sic.) and Captain Myers positioned himself on
the 109 and shot him down in flames. My right engine was smoking due to
hits from 20 MM cannon and I feathered up and took up a heading of 280 degrees
to come home. Captain Myers called to say he would stay with me. I
tried to join up with the last box of bombers but at least five belly turrets
fired on me. Another P-38 on one engine joined up with me and Captain
Myers was still escorting both of us while there were from six to twelve 109's
in the vicinity. A B-17 straggler joined up with us and that was three
ships Captain Myers had to protect by himself. I pulled all the power on
my good engine that I could without damaging it and gradually pulled away from
the other two damaged ships. I last saw them flying together on the same
course just as we crossed the Zuider Zee, but evidently not being bothered by
further attacks.
I was at 26,000 feet when I was shot up and then I dropped down to 19,000 feet, continuing at that altitude to the Zuider Zee where I dropped down to 15,000 feet. Finding that I could drop down t 10,000 feet without getting into clouds, I did so, to take advantage of less head wind. Upon reaching my home station I landed with one engine at 1400 hours.
I would like to say at this time that Captain Myers did the impossible in protecting three damaged planes and in getting them safely out of enemy territory. Too much credit cannot be given to him in my estimation.
GERALD BROWN,
2nd Lieut., Air Corps.
CONFIDENTIAL