At 18.20 hours 8 a/c. took off to give area cover to 24 BALTIMORES bombing in the VELLETRI area. At 18.30 Hrs. before the bombers arrived GRUBSTAKE reported 20+ Bandits E. of ROME going S.
SPITS at A.15 - 17 flying N.W. up HIGHWAY 6 due E. of VELLETRI ran head on into 20+ Fw. 190's with 4 Me. 109's above. Some if not all of the Fw.'s were bombed up. The C.O. led the Squadron into attack and rapidly accounted for 2 Fw.190's. The first he fired at from 150 yards astern seeing strikes all over the E/A bits flying off it which went straight in at G.0961. He then quickly closed in on a second Fw. fired from 250 yards as E/A was on its back seeing strikes just forward of the cockpit and the pilot baled out from 14,000' G.0765. C.O. then found the bombers and escorted them to the target - a point 6 miles N.E. of VELLETRI.
Meanwhile F/O J.S. EKBERY chased 3 Fw.190's fired on one in a dive at 3,000' from 200 yards hitting it in the Port Wing and Fuselage and black smoke poured from the E/A which went down from 1,000' like a falling leaf (G.0162). He then turned into a second Fw.190 and lost sight of the first. Claim 1 Fw.190 PROBABLY DESTROYED. Firing at the second E/A from 200 yards astern he saw strikes on fuselage and Wings and the pilot baled out at 1,000' at G.0162. Claim 1 Fw.190 Destroyed. He then saw a third Fw.190 turning to Port 6 miles E. of ROME at 500'. Catching him up rapidly he fired from 150 yards quarter astern striking Fuselage and Port Wing. E/A went into a vertical dive and crashed at F.9159. Claim 1 Fw.190 DESTROYED.
F/LT. J. WOOLER chased 3 Fw.190's and singled out one of them as it dived to ground level and fired from 150 yards astern. E/A blew up in the air, area F.79 believed to be still carrying bomb. Claim 1 Fw.190 DESTROYED. LT. G.E. MILBORROW attacked 1 Fw.190 hitting it in the fuselage, on the side of the Cockpit and also to the rear of it. He was then himself attacked and turned steeply to Port as he saw Tracer streaking past his Wing Tip, losing the Fw.190. Claim 1 Fw.190 DAMAGED. Flying S. he saw 2 Fw.190's below him at 400' going N. he dived on one, fired from 50 yards astern seeing strikes all over E/A. the pilot of which baled out from 400 feet and E/A crashed at G.8595 having covered MILBORROW's aircraft with oil. He then dived with the other Fw. without result.
LT. J.M.G. ANDERSON chased 1 Fw.190 Northwards on the deck firing from 250 then 150-200 yards astern. Seeing strikes first on Tail then on the Port side of the engine. He then pulled up turned and saw E/A. crash into hillside F.99 area and blow-up. Claim 1 Fw.190 DESTROYED.
F/SGT. J.C. STIRLING chased several Fw.190's Northward sand after fired at one or two without observing results he picked out one and fired from 75-100 yards astern seeing strikes all along the fuselage pieces flying off. He then saw the Cockpit was in flames and the E/A. crashed in flames at F.7596. - Claim 1 Fw.190 DESTROYED. Returning home STIRLING encountered 4 or 5 Fw. 190's which he fired at without observing results.
F/LT. A.F.S. SOMER did not return from this operation. He was last seen going into action at 15,000' when E/A were first sighted. His a/c. was completely under control and apparently O.K. No message of any kind was heard over the R.T. We hope for the best.
The total bag for the day was - 8 Fw.190's DESTROYED - 1 PROBABLY DESTROYED - 1 DAMAGED.
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