Charles Nicholson
20th Fighter Group 02/25/1945
ENCOUNTER REPORT
2ND LT. CHARLES R. NICHOLSON
A. COMBAT
B. 25 FEBRUARY, 1945
C. 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 20TH FIGHTER GROUP
D. 1038 HOURS
E. GARDELEGEN AREA
F. HAZY – O/C AT 8,000 FEET.
G. ONE (1) LONG NOSED FW 190
H. ONE (1) LONG NOSED FW 190 DESTROYED
I.
I WAS FLYING BLUE 4. WE WERE FLYING AT 5,000 FEET WHEN I SAW A LONE FW 190 (LONG-NOSED) AT 1 O’CLOCK LOW, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 FEET ALTITUDE, CLIMBING TO ATTACK. I DROPPED MY NOSE AND STARTED FOR HIM. THE FW 190 SAW ME COMING SO HE TURNED TO THE RIGHT TRYING TO GET A HEAD-ON SHOT AT ME. I PULLED IN AND OPENED FIRE FROM APPROX. 300 YARDS, WITH A 30° DEFLECTION SHOT GIVING THE E/A A 1 SECOND BURST. I OBSERVED SEVERAL STRIKES ON THE ENGINE AND RIGHT WING OF THE E/A. HE REVERSED HIS TURN AND FLEW STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. SO I OPENED FIRE AGAIN FROM 200 YARDS DEAD ASTERN, OBSERVING MANY STRIKES ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS FUSELAGE. HE WAS NOW TURNING TO THE LEFT AND I GAVE HIM A 2 SECOND BURST FROM 150 YARDS OBSERVING STRIKES ALONG THE ENGINE. THE ENEMY PILOT JETTISONED HIS CANOPY AND STRAIGHTENED OUT. PLANE WAS SMOKING AND PIECES WERE FLYING OFF. I PULLED UP ALONGSIDE THE E/A, THE PILOT WAIVED, PULLED HIMSELF OUT THE COCKPIT WITH ONE ARM, THE OTHER HANGING BY HIS SIDE. HE WENT OUT OVER THE BACK, HITTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AS HE WENT BY. THIS PILOT WAS THE BIGGEST AND FATTEST (POSSIBLY GOERING) FLYER I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I CLAIM ONE (1) FW 190 (LONG NOSED) DESTROYED.
J. SERIAL NO. OF A/C: 44-63110
A/C MARKINGS : KI-S
AMMO. EXPENDED : PART OF 1097 ROUNDS 50 CAL. API.
CHARLES R. NICHOLSON
2ND LT., AIR CORPS
O-826743
CONFIRMATION
I WAS FLYING BLUE 3. I SAW LT. NICHOLSON FIRE AT THE LONG NOSED FW 190 AND SAW THE PILOT HIT THE STABILIZER AS HE BAILED OUT. HIS CHUTE DID NOT OPEN.
CLIFFORD W. LONG MONT J. RYAN
1ST LT., AIR CORPS 1ST LT., AIR CORPS
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER O-704750
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Charles Nicholson of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Charles Nicholson's combat experience.
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