19th March 1945 is noted in the Duxford Fighter Group’s History as being a day that would never be forgotten. On that day one of the most intense and successful air battles of WW2 was fought by Duxford’s 78th Fighter Group. Consequently detailed records and combat reports are preserved. 1st Lt. A.S. Miller was flying with Duxford’s 82nd fighter squadron.

The aerial battle of March 19 was the toughest and at the same time most successful the group has ever fought. It lasted for an hour, with waves of German fighters joining the battle until the group, numbering 46 Mustangs, was engaging a force almost three times its size. The fighting was so confused that when the three squadrons landed at Duxford they reported they had encountered the same group of Nazis, estimated at about 50. Later they compared notes and found the total number of enemy planes involved was around 125.

In the Osnabruck area at 1230 hours the 82nd Fighter Squadron engaged four Me 109’s. This was the beginning of the battle which engaged the entire group. There were roughly 45 Me 109’s in four gaggles at altitudes from 14,000 feet to 7,000 feet, and in addition at the beginning of the flight there were about 25 FW 190’s above a thin layer of cirrus which was at 14,000 feet. These came down and joined the battle some fifteen minutes after it started.

Combat Report 1230 hrs. 19th March 1945 1st Lt A.S. Miller 82nd FS (0558)

On March 19, 1945, I was flying as leader of Surtax Blue flight on a sweep to Berlin. Near Osnabruck, we encountered six Me-109s, which were at 3,000 ft. We were at about 9,000 ft. I dropped my tanks and started down. Before getting to those Bandits, I noticed a top cover of about 18 Me-109s. I immediately started up with my flight. On the way up, two of the Bandits broke off and started thru us. I pulled my nose onto the second one and fired. He attempted to turn away, but I noticed a few hits on his engine. At first I thought I had only damaged him, but the e/a did a wing over and dove straight into the ground and exploded. The pilot bailed out. This was at about 9,000 ft. and at about 1230 hrs. In the same area, a few minutes later, I queued up on another Me-109 at 12,000 ft. I fired a burst at extreme range and noticed a few strikes in his tail. The e/a immediately rolled over and started to split-s. I rolled with him, firing and noticed many hits on his wing roots, cockpit, engine and fuselage. The e/a dove straight into the ground. This pilot did not bail out. I claim both Me-109s destroyed.

1st Lt. A.S. Miller 0-714790 82nd FS