The P-51C and the late model Bf 109 were very closely matched in performance. A one-on-one battle often went to the better pilot. Lieutenant C. E. "Bud" Anderson, an ace in the 357th Fighter Group, nearly met his match during an escort mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany, when his flight engaged a similar number of Bf 109s. Soon scattered, "Bud" found himself taking on the Bf 109s' leader one-on-one. The veteran 109 pilot forced Anderson to overshoot and then followed him into the vertical but could not pull enough lead to shoot. The Mustang hung on longer and the situation reversed as the 109 stalled. Twice more they went up in the vertical with "Bud" grimly hanging on to prevail in the end. A tough fight.
