I shot down my first Bf 109 during the first daylight raid on Berlin by American B-17s on March 4,1944. I was flying a P-51B with the birdcage canopy. The weather was extremely bad, and many of the B-17 groups had aborted, with the exception of a couple of boxes, as I remember. I only saw one other Mustang from our 363rd Squadron. Flying at 32,000 feet above the bombers, I spotted a lone 109 out to the side of the B-17s at 28,000 feet. I peeled off and told my wingman to give me top cover. During the dive, I overestimated the 109's speed and overshot. I pulled up in a big roll and came back in under the 109 at his speed and opened fire at about 100 yards. Only three of my guns fired in the beginning, and then only two, but it was enough to blow him up.
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