Charles Yeager

357th Fighter Group 11/27/1944

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ENCOUNTER REPORT

PILOT:  CHARLES E. YEAGER, Capt, AC, O-887005

 

A.  COMBAT

B.  27 November 1944    Field Order No. 1343A

C.  363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group

D.  1310

E.  15 miles southwest of MADGEBURG, GERMANY

F.  CAVU

G.  FW 190s

H.  Four FW 190s destroyed

I.  I was leading Green Flight of Cement Squadron on an escort of another fighter group which was to do strafing south of BERLIN.  “JONAH”, the other group, reported bandits at 11 O’Clock to us.  The Squadron turned left and we saw two Gangs of E/A.  One was 50 plus and the other was approximately 150 plus.  When turned left Cement leader told me to take over since I was in the lead.  I passed in front of the little Gang and climbed over the back end of the large bunch to 32,000 feet.  I jumped the last E/A which was a FW 190.  He went into a rolling dive to the right and then pulled up into a tight turn to the right.  I shot a side deflection shot from his right and got hits from around 200 yards.  He snapped and the tail flew off and I saw no chutes.  I pulled back up into the bottom of the Gang and another 190 jumped me.  I broke into him and got a deflection shot from 90^o at around 100 yards.  I got many strikes on the fuselage and the E/A started smoking and went into a dive.  I followed it down to about 15,000 feet and the E/A flew apart.  There were no chutes.  I climbed back up to the tail end of the Gang and jumped another gaggle.  The E/A started a circling turn with me and I turned inside and closed up to about 100 yards and shot a 30^o deflection and got hits all over the ship.  The pilot bailed out at around 25,000 feet.  I started back after the large bunch and saw another lone 190 circling around over to my left.  I got into a lufberry with the E/A and again closed up to within 100 yards at around 40^o deflection at 29,000 feet.  I fired a short burst and all the hits were concentrated in the cockpit and a sheet of flame came out of the cockpit and the E/A nosed down in a dive on fire.  I followed it down to 12,000 feet.  There was no chute.  I climbed back up to 35,000 feet and followed the larger Gang which was whittled down to approximately 100 E/A now – all FW 190s.  I started to make another pass down through the bunch but was jumped by a lone P-51.  I broke into him and he joined up and when I looked back the E/A were all splitting up and heading for the deck going east.  None of the E/A that I engaged dropped their belly tanks and were rather agressive when engaged.

I claim Four FW.190s Destroyed.

J.  Ammunition Expended:  889 rds .50 cal MG.

 

CHARLES E. YEAGER,

Capt, AC.

 

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Charles Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Charles Yeager's combat experience.

Combat Reports

Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 03/04/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 09/13/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 10/12/1944
Charles Yeager's official WW2 combat report of 11/06/1944

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  357th Fighter Group