First Enemy Contact

Well, we didn't see that many German air craft for a long time for some reason or other. We used to go out on patrols and we'd escort bombers sometimes. Other times, we'd go out looking to see if we could see enemy tanks so we, or movement of the other army and we could report back and the army people could make some use of that information. Or we'd raid the odd air field or shoot up some vehicles. But we didn't see that many air craft. There was one occasion where I was sent up with another fellow. He just joined the squadron. He was quite experienced but... So they sent me out with him and we flew toward the west, which was where the, we were in the east and the Germans were in the west, flying parallel to the Mediterranean. And we flew out quite a distance and didn't see anything and we turned around and started back and we got word over the radio that there were some enemy air craft. Now I didn't know one thing about radar. In those days, we weren't told. I don't know how they knew that but anyway. We kept flying back toward our own lines and I was sitting on the right of the guy who was leading and we saw a plane coming toward us and it was a German plane. And if left by myself I would have dived on it, but he didn't and right behind it, ten seconds or so, there was six more flying, flying abreast. So he let them get by us and we dove down and we were above them. Beautiful position and he dove down and he, he was lining up on the one on the left and I was out on his right. So I slid under him. I figured he was going to sweep across and get a shot at them all. He got in close and all of a sudden he broke in front of me. And I, I couldn't do anything except there was one right ahead of me and I fired everything at that. And there was, I flew through smoke and flame and I suppose the thing blew up, I don't know. I didn't claim it and I didn't really see anything happen. But we missed a wonderful opportunity. The best chance I ever had. So then, I broke away and I didn't see him, my partner, and I flew back to base and landed and that was it. But that was my first sight of... I can see those crosses yet on that plane, those planes. Oh what a , I, I still dream about it at night and think "Oh my." We could have got four or five there, I'm sure.

Interviewer: The speed of this engagement, how long would all that have taken?

Oh, just seconds, yeah.

Interviewer: So if you didn't react instantly, it would be too late?

Yeah. But we could have really done a lot better, but he made such a nice attack on the thing, I , oh "This is beautiful." you know. Turned the wrong way, as far as I'm concerned. Turned right in front of me. Wonder I didn't shoot him.

Interviewer: Well, in actual fact, you probably got one.

I think so, yeah. But I couldn't claim it, I didn't, he didn't see it. But I through, flew through an awful mess of smoke and bits and pieces.