CHARLES KEPPLER

361ST FIGHTER GROUP 02/22/1944


COMBAT REPORT
A. COMBAT

B. 22 FEB 1944

C. 375TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 361ST FIGHTER GROUP

D. 1225 HRS

E. 8 MILES N.E. TILBURG

F. TWO TENTHS VISIBILITY AIR TO AIR GOOD, AIR TO GROUND GOOD.

G. FW-190 YELLOW CROSSES

H. 1 FW 190 DESTROYED

I. FLYING WABASH BLUE LEADER AND CLIMBING IN A RIGHT TURN OBSERVED A E/A IN A SLOW CLIMB AT 12,000 FEET ON MY RIGHT. I CLOSED ON HIM FIRING FROM 350 TO 75 YDS OBSERVING HITS ALL OVER RIGHT WING AND RIGHT SIDE OF FUSELAGE WITH LAST BURSTS. HE THEN FELL OVER IN AN INVERTED SPIN AND SPUN RIGHT INTO THE DECK. THE PILOT DID NOT BAIL OUT. UPON CLIMBING FOUND AND E/A ON MY TAIL AND BEING OUT TURNED AND OUT CLIMBED FROM 6,000 TO 10,000 FEET I HIT THE DECK AND SET COURSE FOR HOME. I CLAIM THIS FW-190 DESTROYED. J. APPROXIMATELY 700 ROUNDS IN SHORT BURSTS.

CHARLES N. KEPPLER, 1ST LT., AIR CORPS.

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






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