391 FS, 366 FG Jet Claim 22EFB45

[Ota Jirovec]

Hello Steve,

This is what William N. Hess wrote in German Jets versus the U.S. Army Air Force book about this combat:

"The 366th Fighter Group, of the Ninth Air Force, was flying its second mission of the day when one of its pilots encountered and downed an Arado 234. Lieutenant David B. Fox reported: "I was flying Red Three in the 391st Squadron formation led by Major Brinson. On our way home from a dive bombing mission, I spotted a lone Ar 234 and used water to catch him.
I dove on him, closing fast, began shooting about fifty to sixty degrees until I was in trail, when I ran out of ammunition. I observed strikes all over the plane. One large portion flew off, probably the canopy, and a fire started in the right engine. The plane went down smoking, and I followed it to the deck. Our own flak became so intense that we had to break off our pursuit. The planes continued a bit farther and finally bellied in."

According to C.-J. Ehrengardt´s post on the "old" TOCH (back in 2001) 1/Lt David B. Fox of the 391st FS claimed originally (and was given credit for) a Me-262 destroyed 10 miles NE of Aachen.

Hope this helps,

Ota