WWII.Shot Down My 1st E/A – March 4, 1944
Flight Officer Chuck Yeager with his P-51B
In Chuck Yeager’s words: Weather was stinkin’. We scrambled – it was to be one of the first American daylight raids on Berlin.
As I broke out in the clouds with my wingman, it was just the two of us. Wondered where the rest of the group was but forges ahead, found the box of bombers to escort and eagerly looked for the enemy.
Near Berlin, I spotted an Me-109 and shot him down. My first kill – I did what all that training was for – shooting down enemy aircraft (e/a), protecting the bombers
As we headed home, I spotted an He 111. And shot it down. That’s two…in one day! Sierra Hotel!
I was out of ammo though and quite vulnerable if another enemy aircraft surfaced. I didn’t fancy being shot down over enemy territory having just shot down two of their own. So I radioed the bomber group and asked if I could get in amongst them and DON’T LET those trigger happy gunners mistake me for the enemy.
The bombers let me get in amongst them for the last stretch home.
When I got back to base, I learned that the mission had been aborted. Clearly my wingman and I didn’t get the memo – or transmission. Sure glad we didn’t. I got my first and second kill – well on my way to being a Fighter Ace and proving the training was not for naught.
Turns out: I got credit for the first kill but didn’t for the second even though I had the gun camera footage and wingman confirmation.
I wasn’t worried. I had gotten two, I could get more.
Little did I know what would happen the next day that would curtail my flying activities….
c. GCYI