Arthur Jeffrey

479th Fighter Group 12/05/1944


434TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

479TH FIGHTER GROUP, AAF

APO 558               STATION F-377

8 December 1944

A.  Type of action:  aerial combat.

B.  Date:  5 December 1944, FO No. 1374-A, Eighth Air Force.

C.  Unit:  434 Fighter Squadron, 479 Fighter Group, AAF, (P-51).

D.  Time:  1045 hours.

E.  Place:  Neuruppin, vicinity of Berlin, Germany.

F.  Weather:  broken cumulus, 10,000 feet; cirro-stratus, 20,000 feet.

G.  Type of enemy aircraft:  FW 190’s, Me 109’s.

H.  Enemy casualties:  three (3) FW 190’s destroyed, one (1) FW 190 damaged.

I.  Narrative:

I was leading Newcross Squadron, Section ‘A’, on an escort mission to the Berlin area.  In the vicinity of Neuruppin, 10 miles northwest of Berlin, at about 26,000 feet, I sighted two formations of E/A on a course of 330 degrees approximately 2,000 feet below us, heading directly for the bomber formation.  I gave the order to drop belly tanks and led White Section (9 P-51’s), to attack in a diving left turn.  I started for the larger formation of about 40 plus FW 190’s, when my gunsight bulb went out.  I dove right on through the smaller formation of approximately 15 Me 109’s which was slightly above and to the right rear of the big gaggle, and the 109’s split up every which-way, most of them hitting the deck.  I finally got my gunsight back in operation and drove up to the rear of the 190 formation, and closed on one to the left rear of the gaggle.  I opened fire at 350 yards from dead astern, slightly high to low and closed to about 100 yards, observing strikes on the fuselage and belly tank.  The belly tank exploded and then the whole E/A burst into flames and rolled over.  I last observed him about 1,000 feet below me, spinning down out of control.  During this attack, I could tell that all my guns were not firing, and discovered later that two guns had frozen.

I then moved over to the right behind another FW 190, and attacked from dead astern.  Opening fire at about 250 yards, I closed to 50 yards, observing strikes all over his fuselage.  The German started weaving slightly, but not violently.  Finally I overshot and pulled up over him to the right, where I observed flames pouring out of his engine and the whole canopy and fuselage appeared to be blackened and seared.  I positioned for another pass, but then I saw the 190 go over in a spiral, belching flames and smoke, so I broke off to look for some more.

Not sighting any immediately at my level, I split-essed to around 4,000 feet, losing Lt. Jacobson, my wingman, while doing so.  Almost at once I picked up two FW 190’s stooging around rather aimlessly, evidently trying to find a hole in the undercast, the top of which was at approximately 3,000 feet.  I drove up behind the rearmost one and opened fire at about 200 yards in a fairly tight turn to the left, clsing to less than 100 yards.  While I was firing I ran out of ammunition on the remaining guns on the right side so that I had to skid to correct.  I observed a number of strikes and flames began to pour out, then the E/A rolled over and spun, flaming into the undercast, out of control.

I then tacked on to the remaining FW 190 and opened fire from about 250 yards.  However, after a very short burst on which I saw some strikes on his fuselage, I ran out of ammunition altogether.  The Jerry immediately started turning and weaving all over the sky in an attempt to shake me, but I stayed on his tail close enough to hit him with a club in hopes that I might scare him into bailing out, as they usually do.  Finally, he ducked into a cloud, so I turned and lit out for the barn.

I was driving along in a slight climb at about 5,000 feet when I ran into another FW 190 coming at me head on.  We each cocked up on a wing, glared at the other while waiting for a move, then went right on our respective ways.  I, for one, breathed a sigh of relief, because I was all alone, out of ammunition, and low on gas.

I claim three (3) FW 190’s destroyed and one (1) FW 190 damaged.

J.  Ammunition expended:  1184 rounds 50 cal. A.P.I.

ARTHUR F. JEFFREY

Major, Air Corps

 

I was flying Newcross White Two, Section ‘A’, as Major A. F. Jeffrey’s wingman, in the above engagement.  In the vicinity of Berlin we sighted a formation of 40 FW 190’s a couple thousand feet below us with about 20 Me 109’s slightly above and behind them.  Maj. Jeffrey led the White Section in a diving attack and drove right through the Me 109’s, scattering them, and attacked one of the rear FW 190’s.  I was on Maj. Jeffrey’s right, doing a little shooting of my own, but covering him, and I saw his German’s belly tank explode, and then the whole front end flamed up, and the E/A went tumbling down.

Major Jeffrey then shifted over toward me and attacked another FW 190 from dead astern.  Again I was attacking on my own hook while covering him, and saw the engine of his Jerry flame up and pieces fly off, and then the 190 rolled and went down, still on fire.

While I was still firing at my E/A Major Jeffrey split-essed off to the left and I followed, but lost him in the cloud and contrail level.

I confirm the destruction of the first two FW 190’s claimed destroyed by Maj. Arthur F. Jeffrey.

GAIL E. JACOBSON

2nd Lt., A.C.


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Arthur Jeffrey of the 479th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Arthur Jeffrey's combat experience.


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