Mustang v Me 109

9th February 1945: Dogfight over Germany - Fighter Ace Robin Olds leads his Squadron as 'roving outlaws' as the weather closes in

The P-51 Mustang had transformed the fortunes of the Eighth Air Force. Bombers were now escorted deep into Germany and back. P-51D-5NA Mustang 44-13357; Lt Vernon Richards, Tika IV 8th AF / 374th FS / 361s t FG.

The bomber war against Germany continued relentlessly, even as the Luftwaffe became ever weaker.

A Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter had entered service in mid-1944; it was faster and better armed than any Allied fighter but did not turn the tide of battle.

Another of Hitler's wonder weapons, the Me 262 jet fighter, had failed to effectively help the Luftwaffe over Germany. Not only were there not enough of them - but loitering Allied fighters were having success picking them off as they either took off or landed. They were too fast to engage in a dogfight.

The Messerschmitt Me -109 had been in production since 1937 and had seen numerous upgrades.

The remains of the Luftwaffe in the west, which had been decimated trying to support the Battle of the Bulge, was fighting a losing battle with its conventional aircraft. Too many of its experienced pilots had been lost. The young pilots now being thrown into the fight to defend Germany had to contend with some talented opponents.

P-38H-5-LO Lightning, P-51A-10 Mustang, and P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft in flight together, United States, 1944-1945

Robin Olds¹ had been credited with eight kills while flying the P-38 Lightning out of England between May and September 1944. After converting to the P-51 Mustang, he made a further six kills before returning to the U.S. for a two-month break in November. Back in England, again with the 434th Fighter Squadron and its parent, the 479th Fighter Group, Olds resumed flying on 15th January. It did not take him long before he was celebrating more victories.

February 9 turned into quite a fine day. First thing in the morning, I pinned on shiny new oak-leaf clusters and officially became a major. Better yet, we ran into a flock of Me-109s and enjoyed reasonable success.