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CONFIDENTIAL

306TH FIGHTER WING
COMBAT CLAIM FORM
Mission Number 246  Date 24 March 1945
CLaimant's Full Name Vincent I. Nitchell Rank 2nd Lt  ASN 0-2001525
Home Address 4468 Kentucky Ave., Mt. Clemens, Mich. Position Yellow Leader
A/C Number 44-11245  Sq. 99th Fighter Date of Encounter 3/24/45
Time 1208 hours Place Berlin Area, Germany Altitude 26,000 to 20,000
Type of E/A Encountered Me-262   Claim Dest.  Prob.  Dam. 1 (joint claim)

[[image: a clock face diagram, into which two blue, upside down 'T' shapes have been drawn near the center of the circle in the 10-11 o'clock segment. Two upside down, red 'T' shapes have been drawn near the edge of the circle either side of the 7 o'clock mark. A straight, blue dotted line connect the red and blue aircraft markers.]]

NARRATIVE: at 1208 hours, 26,000 feet, 3 Me-262's made a pass on the bomber formation from five (5) o'clock  high, in string and passed through the bomber formation. I gave pursuit  with my flight leader and began turning inside of the two (2) jets on y left when I commenced firing short bursts from approximately 450 yards, 50 degree deflection bursts. As I observed hits on the tail of the aircraft, it did a half roll and dived away from  our element. Attack lasted for approximately one minute from 26,000 to 20,000 feet. Claim: 1 damaged. (joint claim with Captain Thomas)
 /s/ [[underlined]]Robert G. Pitts [[/underlined]]
/t/  ROBERT G. PITTS
Capt., A. C.,
Interrogator.

 /s/ [[underlined]]Ray B. Ware [[/underlined]]
/t/  RAY B. WARE,
Capt., A. C.,
Group S-2.
Approved  as one E/A (Destroyed - Probable - Damaged)

A CERTIFIED AND TRUE COPY:

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

 /s/ [[underlined]]B. O. Davis Jr. [[/underliend]]
/t/  B. O. DAVIS JR.,
Colonel, Air Corps,
Commanding.

CONFIDENTIAL