B Flight tasked with another offensive patrol immediately after an RRR at Ophoven. Led by F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards with F/O 'Mac' Steele as 'Growler-2' and myself as 'Growler-3', we took off and headed back towards the frontline. After some time Riksen spotted a small formation of Me 110s from a distance and began diving in behind them. They were flying level just below cloud and F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards ordered us to fly in on their low 6-o'clock for a pass. I was able to get in a few hits with 20mm to the closest one to me but took hits right away from it's tail-gunner. I dove away for a 'high yo-yo' to try for another pass; came back up and noticed it was being attacked by another Spit and squirted out a few more bursts of 20mm and watched it catch on fire. I did another circuit 'round and noticed the second Me 110 taking fire from the rear and then also burst into flames. The bandit continued firing for almost another minute after catching fire in a fanatic attempt to kill it's attacker! Shortly after we RV'd, F/O 'Mac' Steele had an engine failure which we eventually determined was from a lack of fuel and he was able to put down at an AF within friendly lines. F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards and I continued the patrol and I had spotted some AA firing at an A/C within friendly lines. We dived down to investigate and confirmed 2 bandits which I was ordered to engage at will. While trying to get rid of some of my energy from the dive, I went into a 'high yo-yo' with an Me 109 and we ended up in a 'head-to-head', which for some reason did not break away from. As soon as I lined up, I received a devastating burst of heavy rounds and saw smoke billowing into my cockpit. I reported that I was bailing out and knocked off the canopy and was able to jump out before I got too badly burned up. I was certainly wounded and, being traumatized by the event had a sit-down and watched the remainder of the air battle above me before mustering the strength to head over to the nearest allied base. F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe |
