Laurent reference you 31 May message.
My 4th victory was on 26 July, probably near Graz. Our mission was PTW for the 55th Wing (B-24s) which were the 2nd wing of bombers from the end of the bomber stream. The 5th Wing (B-17s) were the last bombers in the stream. We were between 27,000/ 28,000 feet and were overtaking the bombers when the FW-190s attacked. The story of what happened is told by a writer from the 419th Bomb Squadron/301st Bomb Group plus my story is included. The book is no longer in print, and I have no idea if one can quote something from it on the net but will try to contact the author and if he is still alive (I don't think so) ask for permission to reprint it. It is a dramatic story and gives a great perspective of the hell the bombers went through and the boo boos my group made. Laurent I find it impossible to give you a maneuver by maneuver description of my actions and in fact when I was interviewed by Dog Fights, I had to use my hands. Of course you know fighter pilots would be mute without their hands!!
This is a good place to ensure you know that I DID NOT WALK ON WATER! I made far too many mistakes but was able to recover and live to fight. In addition, because of this forum, I have looked more carefully at my encounter reports and my Form 5. They are often incorrect. My probable victory on 24 June was over Jugoslavia but Intelligence wrote it up that I was over Ploesti and in a flight of four! I never got to Roumania and was all alone when I encountered the 109s. I hope the info in my Form 5 (flight record) is more accurate. I know how the problems occurred. At mission debriefing, they took notes which sometimes were not transcribed for a week or more. Since we never saw the reports, we did not have an opportunity to correct them. I wished now that I had insisted on seeing them.
Cordially, Art Fiedler