Many engagements ensued with the enemy

aircraft & 23 year old 2nd Lt Donald L. Barber, on his fifth mission, destroying a Fw190 :

    “I was flying White #4 flying at approximately 15000 ft. We sighted e/a coming toward us from approximately 11 o’clock so we jettisoned our tanks and bombs. Lt Miller, White #3, and I started a steep climbing turn into them, as they had passed in front and were bending it back towards us while climbing. Lt Miller picked a 190 and started for the deck. After hitting the

deck we chased the 190 wide open for approximately five minutes. I saw that I was gaining on him while Lt Miller was not, so I called saying, I was going after him. I started closing when the Jerry flew through factory smoke and haze over a town. Fearing he’d give me the slip, I fired at approximately 1000 yards, and much to my surprise got strikes on his left wing. I guess he thought he’d had it as he wracked up in a tight chandelle and I pulled him in under my nose with about a two and a half ring deflection shot. I believe I hit him as when he came into view again he was smoking slightly and shallowed his bank. I moved in close approx 150 yards dead astern and gave him a fairly long burst, observing strikes all along the fuselage. The pilot then bailed out barely missing my ship. His ship rolled over to the right and crashed on the edge of a small town and exploded. Lt Miller and I then proceeded to the beachhead as he had caught some pretty bad hits, presumably from a flak tower."
Reported, Lt. Barber

JAGDGESCHWADER 53? 
Vicinity of Plantlunne Airfield 
ME-109
August 4, 1944
Please email Jockey31@352ndFighterSquadron.com with any further information.

Vicinity of Dummer Lake 
ME-262
November 5, 1944
Lt. Barber, Red #3, also encountered an Me262 in the Dummer Lake area and reported that its tactics were to make passes from above 30,000 feet at 5-7 o'clock, but not dead astern.  After making the pass, the jet would zoom up and chandelle to repeat the manuever.  Lt. Barber chased this e/a heading east for approx. 50 miles, during which time the 262 would chandelle and make another pass.  Occasionally the enemy pilot turned off his jet propulsion unit.  Estimated speed of the jet was 470 mph.  He was never able to get the 262 in his sights or in range and finally lost him, and went into the clouds.
Reported, Major Juntilla