Charles Peal

78th Fighter Group 02/24/1944


OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER

83RD FIGHTER SQUADRON

 

INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT

REFERENCE F.C.F.O. NO. 250

 

  1. Combat
  2. 24 February, 1944.
  3. 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group.
  4. 1230 hours.
  5. Furstenau.
  6. 5/10 low cloud in patches, excellent visibility.
  7. Me-109.
  8. 1 Me-109 destroyed.
  9. I was leading Cleveland Black section. Just after R/V, I turned toward a burning Fortress that was going down and saw a Me-109 following the Fort on its downward flight. I positioned myself on his tail and gave a short burst at 350 yards with 30 degrees deflection – no results. I closed to 100 yards and shot a three second burst, observing many hits on the fuselage and wing roots. The e/a dived for the deck and leveled out over the tree tops with his “prop” windmilling. He crashed into the ground and disintegrated.

 

CHARLES M. PEAL,

1st Lt., Air Corps,

83rd Fighter Squadron.

24 February, 1944.

 

Supporting Statement of Claim:

 

I was flying Black two on Lt. Peal’s wing. I observed several Me-109’s attacking the lead box of bombers. These e/a broke down after the attack. One 109 continued to fire at a Fort that was spinning down. Lt. Peal attacked this 109. I observed strikes all over the cockpit and fuselage. The 109 began to smoke and angled toward the ground. He pulled out of his dive and leveled out but continued to lose altitude until he hit the ground and exploded.

 

PETER A. CAULFIELD,

2nd Lt., Air Corps,

83rd Fighter Squadron

24 February, 1944.


The action in this combat story can be seen on this DVD.

Order

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Charles Peal of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Charles Peal's combat experience.


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