‘First Contact’
The first pilot to encounter a jet was Flight Officer Thurston L Gaines Jr, of the 332nd’s 99th FS. Gaines Wrote - “The Me 262s were in string and made their attack from five o’clock high at the rear section of the bombers. Immediately after observing the puff of smoke from the jets, a B-17 was seen to do an abrupt high wingover to the right and started to spin in the same direction. By the time I released my wing tanks, the jet aircraft had made his pass and I gave pursuit.