WWII Pilot Combat Report - ALVIN PYEATT

ALVIN PYEATT

357th Fighter Group 02/22/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT 2ND LT. ALVIN F. PYEATT III , O - 74 550 3 A . C OMBAT

B . 22 FEBRUARY 1944 C . 36 2ND FIGHTER SQUADRON, 357 TH FIGHTER GROUP D . 1 445 E . 15 MILES N.W. OF TARGET (BERNBURG, GERMANY) F . THIN HAZ E AT 12,000 FT. G . ME 109 (RED & YELLOW STRIPED NOSE, LIGHT GREY ON BOTTOM, DARKER GREY ON TOP) H . PILOT ME 109 DEST I . I WAS EXCORTING B-17 BOMBERS AT 24,000 FT. WHEN I OBSERVED A FORMATION OF ME 109'S BELOW, CLIMBING FOR AN ATTACK ON THE BOMBERS. I PEELED OFF ALONG WITH TWO P-51'S FROM C-5 SQUADRON AND DOVE TO 18,000 FT. THE OTHER P-51'S OVER -SHOT, BUT I HUNG ON TO AN ME 109. HE MADE A TIGHT TURN AND I FIRED A SHORT BURST, BUT DID NOT OBSERVE STRIKES DURING THE TURN. THEN HE LEVELLED OUT AND I FOLLOWED UP HIS TAIL TO WITHIN 50 YARDS. I COULD PLAINLY SEE HIS TAIL WHEEL. I COMMENCED FIRING AGAIN AND SAW MY TRACERS MOVING OVER THE ENEMY AIRCRAFT FROM RIGHT TO LEFT . I SAW STRIKES IN HIS FUSELAGE. THE PLANE ROLLED OVER ON ITS BACK AND ITS NOSE WENT UP. IT MADE 1 ½ TURNS INVERTED SPIN, THEN DISHED OUT NOSE, AND JERKED SEVERAL TIMES. THEN IT OSCILLATED VIOLENTLY AND WENT INTO ANOTHER SPIN AND PLUNGED DOWN THROUGH THE HAZE AT ABOUT 14,000 FT. IT WAS STILL SPINNING AT 4,000 FT. SO I AM CERTAIN HE MUST HAVE CRASHED. J. 3 0 0 ROUNDS

ALVIN F. PYEATT III 2ND L T. , A IR C ORPS

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by ALVIN PYEATT of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of ALVIN PYEATT's combat experience.

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