CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Engagement.
B. 29 January 1944.
C. 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
D. 1130.
E. West of Frankfurt.
F. Thin stratus layer, tops at 4000 feet.
G. Me 109’s.
H. None, pending assessment of combat films.
I. I was leading Swindle White flight on withdrawel (sic.) from the
target at Frankfurt, at the time bringing out two flights which were getting low
on gas. At 1130 we saw a big dog fight going on beneath our altitude of 25,000
feet at 15,000 to 20,000 feet in which P-38’s from the 20th Group and
P-47’s from an unidentified Group were engaged. The P-38’s seemed to be in a
great deal of trouble so I took the flight down on four Me 109’s which were
after one lone P-38. They saw us coming and rolled for the deck, and at about
the same time one Me 109 started straight for the sun so we went after him.
When we got to about six hundred yards he too, half-rolled for the deck, at
which time I fired a very short burst at him. As stated, we did not have enough
gas to go after him, much to our disgust, so all we could do was to make about
two more passes at some other Me 109’s which were again after the P-38’s. In
all I should say there were about twenty enemy aircraft in the area, with about
the same number of friendly aircraft. On one of the later passes I again fired
a short burst at a half-rolling enemy aircraft but again I was to far out of
range to hope for nay results.
MARK K. SHIPMAN,
Major, Air Corps.
CONFIDENTIAL