I. Captain Robert F. Sargent, 0-433406, 504th Ftr. Sq.
On the 30th of March on an escort mission to Hamburg I was leading Green Flight. In the target area approximately nine (9) ME262’s passed head-on through our squadron, the entire squadron broke and the chase was on.
In the confusion which followed I took several out of range shots at two jets and then found that I was alone at 12,000 feet. At this time White Four (Lt. Kunz) joined up with me and we flew beneath the bomber stream back to the target area.
We had stooged around in the area for two or three minutes when I saw 2 e/a taking off from Kaltenkirchen airfield. I called them in and we split-essed down on them. Unfortunately due to their camouflage we lost them for a second and then when we got down to their level I was able to pick up just one of them. From here on it was easy. My airspeed was 420 mile an hour and I estimated his as being about 250 miles per hour.
As we closed I gave him a long burst and noticed strikes immediately, the left unit began to pour white smoke and large pieces including the canopy came off. The pilot bailed out. We were at 300 feet at this time and the plane dove into the ground and exploded causing a large oil fire which went out almost at once.
The pilot’s chute did not fully open and the last I saw of him was on the ground near the plane with the chute streaming out behind him.
Lt. Kunz did a splendid job of covering my tail and after the encounter we pulled up and looked for the second jet but when we sighted him he was going balls out for central Germany and we couldn’t overtake him. Being low on gas we then set course for home.
I claim one (1) ME262 destroyed.
s/Robert F. Sargent ROBERT F. SARGENT Capt. Air Corps, 504th Ftr. Sq.
On 30 March 1945 I was White Four on an escort mission to Hamburg. Near the target three flights of ME262’s passed through our squadron and we pursued. I saw one jet firing at four P-51’s so I opened up at extreme range and observed another ship of our squadron all alone. It turned out to be Green Leader, Captain Sargent.
I took his wing and we headed back to the target area. Suddenly Captain Sargent called in bandits taking off from Kaltenkirchen A/F, so from 10,000 feet we dove in pursuit. Haze and a 5/10 cloud cover made it difficult to keep them in sight.
Captain Sargent closed on the last one and clobbered him with first burst. He over-ran the E/A and I fired as the jet went in from 300 feet.
The explosion was violent, but the fire went out quickly. The other bandit evaded in haze and cloud.
I did not leave my wingman position for fear that more E/A might be following these two in takeoff order.
I verify Captain Sargent’s claim of one ME262 destroyed.
Leonard A. Kunz 2nd Lt. Air Corps, 504th Fighter Squadron.