[jhor99]

Smudger and Franek,
I had just joined the sqdn when the incident occured,
I also question the figure of 7 planes downed by 1 man. Enen though I read the account of each of the 7 planes downed. My reasoning is that 3 planes of the 6 in the sqdn were shot down. I'm sure that some of the gunners in those planes accounted for some of the enemy planes downed, since they were in very close proximity.
Having said that, I have no reason to doubt the total 49 number It was a prolonged running air battle, with no fighter escort. On a mission of that kind I'm quite sure that there were observers along in several planes, that had no duties except to observe.
I know that on my early missions we rarely had fighter escort. I personally didn't see many fighters, because I was consentrating in keeping the plane in very tight formation, but I was able to hear the talk over the intercom. What scared me the most was flak, which I could see, and had to fly through.