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CONFIDENTIAL

306TH FIGHTER WING
COMBAT CLAIM FORM

Mission Number 246
Date 24 March 1945

Claiment's Full Name EARL R. LANE
Rank 1st Lt
ASN 0-828052
Home Address 1165 E 294th St. Wickliffe, Ohio
Position 2nd Element Leader

A/C Number 415087
Sq. 100th Fighter
Date of encounter 24 March '45
Time 1210  Place Berlin Area
Altitude 25,000'

Type of E/A Encountered ME-262 Claim Dest. X  Prob. [[blank]]  Dam. [[blank]]

[[preprinted image - circle, perimeter divided into 12 points, indicating directions, e.,g., the top of the circle is North. There are two aircraft drawn symbols on the circle, one American and one German.]]  

NARRATIVE:  The ME-262 was in a 30 degree dive, coming across the bomber formation.  He appeared as if he was peeling from an attack on the bombers.  I came in for a 30 degree deflection shot from 2,000 feet.  He didn't quite fill my sight.  I fired three (3) short bursts and saw the plane emitting smoke.  A piece of the plane, either the canopy or one of the jet orifices, flew off.  I then pulled up and circled over the spot where he went down.  I saw a crash and a puff of black smoke.  Two (2) seconds later, I saw another piece hit close to the first piece.  I was at 17,000 feet when I broke off the encounter.  The jet was a steel blue-grey camouflage.  My wingman verified this encounter.

/s/ John B. Quick
/t/ JOHN B. QUICK,
Capt., A.C.,
Interrogator.

/s/ Ray B. Ware
/t/ RAY B. WARE, 
Capt., A. C.,
Gp S-2.

Approved as one E/A (Destroyed - [[strikethrough]] Probable [[/strikethrough]] - [[strikethrough]] Damaged [[/strikethrough]])

A CERTIFIED AND TRUE COPY.

RAY B. WARE,
Capt., A. C.
Intelligence Officer.

/s/ B. O. Davis Jr.
/t/ B. O. DAVIS JR.,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Commanding.

CONFIDENTIAL