Chris Hanseman
339th Fighter Group 06/10/1944
B. 10 June 1944.
C. 505th Fighter Squadron.
D. 1045-1100 hours.
E. Vicinity of Laigle; deck.
F. Overcast at 9,000 feet; visibility good.
G. 1 JU-88. 1 ME-109.
H. 1 JU-88 damaged (ground). 1 ME-109 destroyed. I.
a. 1st Lt. Chris J. Hanseman, O-515525, 505th Fighter Squadron. On June 10 while on area patrol in central-western France I became separated from my flight in heavy flak over an airdrome in the vicinity of Laigle. I strafed an airfield about 15 minutes north of Laigle, damaging one JU-88. I climbed into the sun south of the field and came down on a row of JU-88s parked wing tip to wing tip. I opened fire on the first JU-88 at 200 yards and closed to 50 yards - firing all the way. I observed strikes in the center of the fuselage. The flak was heavy so I made no more passes. After leaving the airfield I proceeded about 15 minutes north and ran into a squadron of ME-109s engaged in a landing pattern. I attacked one of the e/a acting as top cover, opening with a 90 degree deflection shot at 300 yards. He had already started evasive action. I cut my throttle and turned inside of him, dropping 20 degrees of flaps. This put me about 150 yards directly astern of the ME-109. I closed fire and got strikes to 75 yards and getting hits on the fuselage. At this point the pilot jettisoned his canopy and bailed out. I was nearly out of ammo so I returned to base.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Chris Hanseman of the 339th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Chris Hanseman's combat experience.
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