WWII Pilot Combat Report - BEN JOHNSTON

BEN JOHNSTON

355th Fighter Group 12/01/1943

HEADQUARTERS 355TH FIGHTER GROUP A . P . O . 637, U.S. ARMY Pilot's P ersonal E ncounter R eport

A . TYPE OF ACTION: Combat B . DATE: Dec ember 1, 1943 C . UNIT: 3 5 7 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . TIME ATTACK MADE: 1 1 20 E . GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF ATTACK: West of Cologne. F . WEATHER: 6/7-10's cumulus wi t h tops at 1 8 ,000 to 20,000 feet. G . TYPE OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT: ME 109 G H . ENEMY CASUALTIES (Pilot's Claim) : 1 ME 109 G destroyed . 1 ME 109G damaged . I . ACCOUNT OF COMBAT: I was flying Yellow 3. We had just come over the bombers when several bogies were called in, queing up to attack the bombers. We started to attack them and I saw a single E/A preparing to attack bombers from rear and level. I closed in on him from the rear, opened fire at 700 yards and observed strikes on his fuselage and canopy. He went into a gentle peel-off and I pressed my attack, firing several short bursts. I saw him burst into flames and go into a vertical dive. The E/A was a muddy brown color with a red spinner and red wing tips. I turned to go home and as I did so, I saw 2 ME 109's about to attack me, so I turned into them and made a head-on attack. I opened fire at 1000 yards and kept firing until we passed each other. I saw flashes and hits on his wings and nose. This ME 109 was black with silver markings. Both encounters were at 26,000 to 29,000 feet.

BEN D. JOHNSTON , 1s t Lt. , A ir C orps .

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by BEN JOHNSTON of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of BEN JOHNSTON's combat experience.

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