[Ivo de Jong]

Regarding the 'how was this possible' question, the Group History of the 365th Fighter Group (which devotes quite a few pages to this action!) may give the answer. As the citation for the DUC summarizes: 'with two Squadrons flying abreast of each other and some distance apart, and the third Squadron flying top cover one thousand feet above and a squadron length ahead, thirty FW 190s were sighted coming head-on one thousand feet below. By feinting an attack, the top cover Squadron forced the enemy planes to dive downwards, thereby causing them to pass directly between the other two Squadrons. The two lower Squadrons then vigorously attacked the enemy, shooting down several planes and dispersing the remainder. Re-forming for the flight home, the squadrons began climbing to their original positions when the top cover reported twenty-five or thirty enemy aircraft approaching at 24,000 feet. WIth utter disregard for the critical shortage of fuel which now existed, the Group gallently accepted this challenge and again attacked in such a manner as to prevent the enemy from breaking off and forced them into a situation where the Group was able to repeat the same devastating process as before".

Seems that good leadership from Major John R. Murphy brought the 365th in a favourable fighting position that day!
Kind regards,
Ivo de Jong