356th Fighter Group 12/05/1944
361st FIGHTER SQUADRON
Office of the Intelligence Officer
APO 557 AAF Station 369
7 December 1944.
PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT
FIELD ORDER 1374A
CLIFFORD T. ASHBY, 1st Lt., ASN O-762201 CHINWAG 51
a. Combat.
b. 5 December 1944.
c. 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group.
d. Approximately 1105 to 1120 hours.
e. Northeast of BERLIN, EBERSWAIDE area.
f. Thin high cirrus at 27,000 feet, lower strato cumulus, 7/10ths, at about 18,000 feet. Visibility horizontally excellent in combat area.
g. 50 plus FW 190s.
h. TWO FW 190s DESTROYED.
i. I was leading CHINWAG WHITE FLIGHT on the mission of 5 December 1944. Flying with the assault force, 356th “A” Group, northeast of BERLIN, we bounced 50 plus FW 190s at 28,000 feet. I followed CHINWAG RED FLIGHT in on the rear of the gaggle. When one FW broke right from the main formation I singled him out for attack. I fired two bursts at 300 yards, 30º deflection and observed many strikes in and around the cockpit. This 190 went down in a lazy half roll and when I last saw him, at the top of the overcast, at 16,000 feet, he was still spinning and throwing out great quantities of black smoke. I believed I killed the pilot.
I claim ONE FW 190 DESTROYED.
Then I took after another FW, chasing him into the clouds and firing several short bursts. I lost him in the clouds. I am not making any claim pending assessment of my combat film.
I climbed back to 19,000 feet and spotted two 190s firing on a P-51. I peeled off and started down on them but they were intercepted by a flight of four other 51s. I broke off and started back, climbing around a cloud. I then ran into two FW 190s, they split in opposite directions, one started climbing while the other made a shallow dive. I pitched the one in the dive and started after him. I fired a long burst at 30º deflection and observed strikes on the 190’s tail. I increased my load and gave him another long burst. This time I observed strikes on the wing roots and in the cockpit. The 190 started a lazy roll and I pulled up alongside it. The FW was on fire and the pilot was slumped over in the cockpit. Then the FW started spinning down. I believe the pilot was dead.
I claim one FW 190 destroyed.
The other FW 190 made a pass on me but overshot.. I broke away in a climbing turn and joined other P-51s and came home.
My claims are: TWO FW 190s DESTROYED.
j. 176 rounds fired, API.
CLIFFORD T. ASHBY,
1st Lt., Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Clifford Ashby of the 356th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Clifford Ashby's combat experience.
Clifford Ashby: Personnel File
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