B Flight was ordered to go on another fighter sweep mission immediately after PANCAKE. Myself (Red 3), flight leader F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards (Red Leader) and F/O 'Mac' Steele (Red 2) took off successfully from AF B. 77 and made our way over towards objective area of Hertogenbosch where we encountered a large group of Me 109s. We got into a scrap and I acted as bait to draw the enemy fighters to my 6 o'clock where F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards was able to catch them unawares. I found an enemy A/C and as I was getting into firing position F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards had told me to 'break' over the R/T as I had an enemy 109 on my tail. I was able to dive and break and I saw his fire take down the pursuing Me 109 below me and burst into flames as it soared towards the earth. Shortly afterwards I got word over R/T that Red 2 F/O 'Mac' Steele had been shot up and was forced to bail out. Myself and Red Leader F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards were able to RTB safely. F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe |
