WWII Pilot Combat Report - CHARLES CUMMINS

CHARLES CUMMINS

361ST FIGHTER GROUP 06/25/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT A . C OMBAT. B. 25 JUNE 1944 . F.O. 417, VIII FIGHTER COMMAND. C. 3 7 5TH FIGHTER SQUADRON. 361ST FIGHTER GROUP. D. 0700 HOURS. E. 10 MILES NORTH OF LISIEUX. F. CAVU. G. M E - 109. H. 1 M E - 109 DESTROYED .

I. FLYING CADET RED LEADER I DOVE DOWN IN A DIVING LEFT TURN ON A FORMATION OF 30 PLUS ME-109'S THAT CADET LEADER CALLED IN AT 0700. THE FORMATION WAS FLYING STACKED DOWN FROM 10,000 FEET 10 MILES NORTH OF LISIEUX. THE E/A SCATTERED AND I BOUNCED ONE THAT TOOK OFF EAST AT 6,000 FEET. HE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A CLIMBING LEFT TURN, AND, OUT-TURNING HIM, I OPENED FIRE FROM 300 YARDS, CLOSING TO 200 YARDS WITH 15 DEG DEFLECTION. MANY STRIKES WERE OBSERVED ALL OVER THE WING ROOTS AND CANOPY AND THE E/A BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CANOPY THEN FLEW OFF, AND THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY BAILED OUT. I PULLED UP TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUED MY SEARCH FOR OTHER E/A. I CLAIM THIS ME-109 DESTROYED. J. E2-C. P-51. 44-13410. 718 ROUNDS. CHARLES R. CUMMINS CAPTAI N , A .C. SUPPORTING STATEMENT FLYING CADET RED THREE I FOLLOWED CADET RED LEADER DOWN ON A BOUNCE OF 30 PLUS ME-109'S. THE BANDITS STARTED BREAKING WHEN THEY SAW US COMING IN AT 10,000 FEET. SO RED LEADER PICKED OUT ONE TURNING LEFT AND CLIMBING. AT ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE ME-109 I SAW SMOKE FROM CADET RED LEADERS GUNS AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THE ME-109 BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CANOPY WAS THEN JETTISONED AND THE JERRY BAILED OUT.

MURRAY C. BELL 1ST LT., A.C.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by CHARLES CUMMINS of the 361ST FIGHTER GROUP. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of CHARLES CUMMINS's combat experience.

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