56th Fighter Group 11/18/1944
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY FIRST FIGHTER SQUADRON
AAF STATION F-150, APO 558
U. S. ARMY
ENCOUNTER REPORT
VIII A.A.F. F.O. No. 1317-A
2nd Lt. Arthur H. Gerow
Whippet White Two
a. Combat (air)
b. 18 November 1944
c. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group
d. 1230 hours
e. East of Hanau
f. 10/10 over target at 25,000
g. Two FW-190’s
h. One FW-190 destroyed (air), one FW-190 destroyed,
pending assessment of combat film. (air)
i. I was flying Whippet White 2 and circling over the target which we had just dive-strafed. While strafing, very good results were attained, approximately 6 oil storage tanks being exploded. We had climbed to about 8,000 ft. when our flight was attacked by 16 FW-190’s which came at us from 5 o’clock and about 2,000 ft. above us. We broke into them, and I became separated from my leader, Capt. Carter. I got a good small deflection shot at one of the e/a from 200-300 yards observing 8 or 9 hits on Wing roots and canopy.
In the meantime another e/a started getting on my tail, and I had to break off my original combat and start another one. I out-turned the e/a on my tail and he broke off. I followed him from about 7,000 ft. to 2,000 ft, firing from about 300 yards and observing hits on his canopy and that he was smoking badly. The e/a pulled up and the pilot bailed out. The e/a crashed into the side of a hill and I took pictures of the fire. I claim this 190 as destroyed.
About this time the fight was almost over, so I climbed up and rejoined the formation with Whippet Red leader, Capt. Cathers. I couldn’t observe what happened to the first e/a I attacked because I was being attacked and had to break off. However the concentration of hits on the canopy must have either killed the pilot or forced him to bail out.
Just before we finished strafing I was still with Capt. Carter (Whippet White leader) and can confirm his destroying one Me-109. He scored numerous hits on the e/a at about 1,000 ft. and it crashed right into the ground.
I had a K-14 gun sight, but because of my violent snap shooting I had no time to track so I used the standard gun sight.
I claim one FW-190 destroyed pending assessment and claim one 190 destroyed.
I confirm one Me-109 destroyed by Capt. Carter.
j. 1655 rds .50 cal A.P.I.
ARTHUR H. GEROW
2nd Lt., Air Corps.
See Encounter Report of Capt. J.R. Carter
Reg. No.
56D-213-J
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Arthur Gerow of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Arthur Gerow's combat experience.
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