355th Fighter Group 03/06/1944
HEADQUARTERS
355TH FIGHTER GROUP
A.P.O. 637, U.S. ARMY
Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report
A. TYPE OF ACTION: Combat
B. DATE: 6 March 1944
C. UNIT: 357th Fighter Squadron
D. TIME OF ATTACK: 1455
E. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF ATTACK: On German-Dutch border, west of Lingen
F. WEATHER: 3/10’s cover of cumulus up to 3,000 feet
G. TYPE OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT: 1 FW 190
H. ENEMY CASUALTIES (Pilot’s Claim): 1 FW 190 destroyed
I. ACCOUNT OF COMBAT:
I was flying Lt. Col. Stewart’s wing, Sunshade Red 2. I called an E/A in at 1100 o/c low. I thought Sunshade would attack so I pulled closer to him to cover him. Col Stewart told me to attack and that he would cover me. I dived from 15,000 to 12,000 on the E/A and closed to 100 yards dead astern when he saw me. He cut his throttle and made a left turn. I followed and the E/A straightened out in a steep dive. I opened fire at 100 yards from dead astern and I first observed hits on his belly tank which burst into flames. I observed numerous hits on the fuselage and knowing he was done for I broke off the attack at 6,500 feet and pulled back up and rejoined Sunshade. The last I saw of the E/A, it was going down in a vertical dive smoking badly at 5,000 feet. There is no doubt in my mind that he was destroyed and I saw no reason for following him to the deck.
BYRON L. HILL
1st Lt., Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Byron Hill of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Byron Hill's combat experience.
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