A.B. RICHIE
78th Fighter Group 07/30/1943
Type of Action Combat Date 30 July 1943 Unit 8 2 nd Fighter Squadron Time of Attack 1015 hours . Place of Attack Haldern Area Weather Hazy, with some high clouds Type of Target FW 190 Enemy Casualties 1 FW 190 destroyed . Account of Combat : I was flying Toastrack Red 3. Major Deyhuff, leading Toastrack White flight, attacked two FW 190s. The leading enemy aircraft broke down and to the right. I broke down after him from about 26,000 feet, followed by my wingman, F/O Graff. I started firing at a range of 500-600 yards, with considerable deflection. The FW 190 pulled into a climb, and did a slow lazy wingover, and then started straight down. From the action of the plane, I assumed that the pilot had been hit, and was either o ut or dead. I followed and closed to about 250-300 yards firing all the time. One large piece flew off, then small pieces followed. Then the right landing gear came down. I could see flashes at his wing roots, and he was pouring black smoke. When I first started firing all my guns were firing, then one wing's guns quit, and finally my final bursts were from one gun only, as the other seven had jammed. I broke off action at 14,000 feet, with the enemy aircraft still going down, trailing heavy smoke. My wingman was still with me at this time. I zoomed up to 21,000 feet, trying to rejoin my squadron. I called F/O Graff and asked him if he was alright, and he answered "OK." He was about 300 yards behind me then. I looked back again in a few seconds and saw him peel off into a dive. I could not see any enemy aircraft close by. I lost sight of my wingman under my wing and couldn't locate him again, so I came out alone. I claim one FW 190 destroyed . A.B. RICHIE 1 st Lt. A.C.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by A.B. RICHIE of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of A.B. RICHIE's combat experience.
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