Re: RR Link to WWII Fighter Activity

Reference Rich Muth's post about Howard Fogg: In the 1960s-1970s Howard and I were neighbors in the Gunbarrel section northeast of Boulder, CO. Every month or so we would get together for lunch. The discussion often was more about flying than railroads. I was a pilot for Western Airlines and was also flying fighters (F-100s) in the Colorado Air National Guard.

One day Howard told me about one of his missions. Being older (age 24) than most of the P-51 pilots based in England, Howard was chosen as a flight commander. One day, toward the end of the War, Howard was leading a flight of four back across the English Chanel, after escorting B-17s over Germany. He spoted a flight of FW-190s going back to Germany. Howard and his flight were already low on fuel and he knew that a "dog fight" would probably use-up his remaining gas and he likely would not make it back home. As the two formations approached at the same altitude, neither group broke formation. When the lead FW-190 passed, he simply dipped his wing. Howard did the same and the two flights returned to their bases. Howard said the German fighters must have been as low on fuel as he was and elected to live and fight another day.