CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Engagement.
B. 25 November 1943.
C. 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
D. 1315.
E. Near Lille.
F. CAVU.
G. ME 109.
H. None.
I. I was flying Swindle White
No. 3. Ten minutes after crossing the French Coast at 19,000 feet, we were
nearly to Lille. We saw contrails of enemy aircraft at two o'clock some
five thousand feet above us. They were trying to get into the sun to
attack us. Major Shipman immediately began to climb. We had reached
about 22,000 feet when the six ME 109's started to dive at us. Major
Shipman turned directly into them and the sun. we were still climbing and
met them head on at about twenty five thousand feet. I fired at the second
man from the starboard side to us. The burst was about a second and
observed no strikes. The enemy fired for about four seconds and continued
through our flight. The plane I fired at passed between myself and my
wingman. After landing I found out that one 20 MM slug entered the lower
part of my left engine nacelle but did no mechanical damage.
WILLIAM K. BIRCH,
2nd Lieut., Air Corps.
CONFIDENTIAL