422nd NFS CO,Lt Col Johnson and his R/O,Capt James Montgomery,
took off from thier base in Belgium,for a twilight patrol over enemy lines near Aachen.At precisely 1805 hours, CGI checked in and informed them of several enemy aircraft approaching from the east at 4000ft.Descending from his patrol height of 10,000ft Johnson investigated the contact and,upon seeing no aircraft ,immediately returned to his original'perch'.
Minutes later, CGI notified them once again that they were picking up multiple 'bogies',this time at 5000ft.Johnson dropped down a second time and soon spotted the elusive contacts - three Fw 190's loaded with bombs.Flying a striaght and level course at about 250 mph, the German aircraft were soon engaged by Johnson, who flew right into their formation.Two of the fighter- bombers broke off an scattered,leaving the Black Widow pilot to focus on the lead Fw 190.Closing to 1000ft,dead astern of the German aircraft,Johnson opened fire with two short bursts.Strikes were observed on the Fw 190's right wing as it drifted into a slow turn to the left.By this time the range had closed through 500ft,and Johnson's thumb increased pressure on the firing button,letting a long five-second burst literally at point-blank range.
Fatal hits were observed all over the fuselage and engine,black smoke billowing out from the engine as the aircraft fell off into a vertical dive.At 2000ft the pilot made a doomed effort to pull out but the Fw 190 hit the ground and explopded.By this time Johnson was so low that he noticed light 'friendly' ground fire detonating around him.Swiftly climbing out of the flak band,he continued his patrol for a further 15 minutes before returning to base-where it was discovered that his aircraft had sustained minor damage from small arms fire.This engagement was one of only a handful foght between Black Widows and enemy fighters during daylight hours,the 422nd's official records showing that they achieved three confirmed kills over Fw 190s (all between 21 October and 17 December 1944).
*(Copied from Osprey's P-61 Black Widow Units
Of World War 2)*
I believe this is Ripsnorts pic
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DoZZ -=NightStalkers=-
[This message has been edited by DoZZ (edited 07-15-2000).]