Lt. Col. John T. Nelson
Third Victory
Third Victory
The third Swastika on my assigned Mustang does not appear in my official records. It was ordered there
by a Lt. Col. Squadron Commander now a retired Three Star General. On return from the mission, he
viewed my plane's remaining pockets of blackish German engine oil and some minor wing edge dents
apparently from the plane hit with four 50-caliber machine guns at 10 to 15 feet distance. The gun camera
lens was covered with the oil. He, on the spot, told my mechanic and gun loader to add another Swastika,
which was immediately done.
I had neared a good firing position on the German during a rather lengthy dogfight when he suddenly
turned into a dense cloud bank. Moving to a close position slightly below and behind his left wing, I flew
formation as normal in clouds on his instrument flying ability until we exited the cloud bank.
I doubt he knew I was there when, at point blank range, I destroyed his aircraft. Although in clear airspace,
I went immediately on instruments caused by the black oil covering my canopy. Not until I calmed down
and rolled back the canopy, did I become oriented with my surroundings.
I understand the 109 oil tank is right behind the pilot, and the Mustang's bullets will at short range go
through the tank and the pilot's armor plate, which I believe all fighter planes have in the back of the seat
for some pilot protection.
I was now alone hundreds of miles inside enemy territory in a sky where I had engaged one of many
visible German fighters. We were near their airfields. I had no witness to confirm the victory, and the lens
covered gun camera could not confirm the victory. Even if I had seen the plane explode or crash, the rules
at the time would not have given me the victory.
My small once heavily fuel loaded Mustang had flown 500 miles to this fight. It had endured emergency
power performance beyond the allowed limits. It was now to cross the Alps and the Adriatic Sea getting
me back to Italy.
Ever since fighter pilots started dueling, most often one on one, to incapacitation or death of an opponent,
the victory claim has existed. I could expect this pilot, likely younger than my 22 years, was like me, just
answering his country's calling.
During my first victory, the 109 pilot crash landed in an open field and ran from the plane. As I climbed
circling for a safer fighting altitude another Mustang immediately strafed the crashed plane, and I believe
perhaps unintentionally while concentrating through his gun sight on the plane, killed or wounded the
running pilot. I was somewhat angered but did understand the repaired plane and live pilot could return
to fight again and extend the raging war which was far from over.
To my knowledge, no German or American fighter pilot killed an opponent who had taken to his parachute
or had otherwise lost the fight. Perhaps hard to understand, but some reach for decency did exist in these
duels involving life and death.
The American P-51 Mustang arrived late in the war with added range and ability to DIVE catching German
fighters in their old dive tactic to engage or dive away from a fight. The Mustang could not climb like the
British Spitfire I first flew in combat, which could out climb but not catch the German fighters in their high
speed dives.
Like most fighter pilots who bonded with the planes they fought in, I too bonded and feel grateful to have
flown combat in, in my opinion, the two best Allied fighters of the day - the British Spitfire and American
Mustang.
by a Lt. Col. Squadron Commander now a retired Three Star General. On return from the mission, he
viewed my plane's remaining pockets of blackish German engine oil and some minor wing edge dents
apparently from the plane hit with four 50-caliber machine guns at 10 to 15 feet distance. The gun camera
lens was covered with the oil. He, on the spot, told my mechanic and gun loader to add another Swastika,
which was immediately done.
I had neared a good firing position on the German during a rather lengthy dogfight when he suddenly
turned into a dense cloud bank. Moving to a close position slightly below and behind his left wing, I flew
formation as normal in clouds on his instrument flying ability until we exited the cloud bank.
I doubt he knew I was there when, at point blank range, I destroyed his aircraft. Although in clear airspace,
I went immediately on instruments caused by the black oil covering my canopy. Not until I calmed down
and rolled back the canopy, did I become oriented with my surroundings.
I understand the 109 oil tank is right behind the pilot, and the Mustang's bullets will at short range go
through the tank and the pilot's armor plate, which I believe all fighter planes have in the back of the seat
for some pilot protection.
I was now alone hundreds of miles inside enemy territory in a sky where I had engaged one of many
visible German fighters. We were near their airfields. I had no witness to confirm the victory, and the lens
covered gun camera could not confirm the victory. Even if I had seen the plane explode or crash, the rules
at the time would not have given me the victory.
My small once heavily fuel loaded Mustang had flown 500 miles to this fight. It had endured emergency
power performance beyond the allowed limits. It was now to cross the Alps and the Adriatic Sea getting
me back to Italy.
Ever since fighter pilots started dueling, most often one on one, to incapacitation or death of an opponent,
the victory claim has existed. I could expect this pilot, likely younger than my 22 years, was like me, just
answering his country's calling.
During my first victory, the 109 pilot crash landed in an open field and ran from the plane. As I climbed
circling for a safer fighting altitude another Mustang immediately strafed the crashed plane, and I believe
perhaps unintentionally while concentrating through his gun sight on the plane, killed or wounded the
running pilot. I was somewhat angered but did understand the repaired plane and live pilot could return
to fight again and extend the raging war which was far from over.
To my knowledge, no German or American fighter pilot killed an opponent who had taken to his parachute
or had otherwise lost the fight. Perhaps hard to understand, but some reach for decency did exist in these
duels involving life and death.
The American P-51 Mustang arrived late in the war with added range and ability to DIVE catching German
fighters in their old dive tactic to engage or dive away from a fight. The Mustang could not climb like the
British Spitfire I first flew in combat, which could out climb but not catch the German fighters in their high
speed dives.
Like most fighter pilots who bonded with the planes they fought in, I too bonded and feel grateful to have
flown combat in, in my opinion, the two best Allied fighters of the day - the British Spitfire and American
Mustang.
P-51 Mustang
ME-109's
ME-109 taking hits.
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