Clifford Gould

55th Fighter Group 04/10/1945

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PILOT’S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

A.  Combat.

B.  10 April 1945.

C.  38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.

D.  1300.

E.  Wesendorf A/D and dispersal 10 miles northwest of A/D.

F.  CAVU.

G.  3 Me 109’s and 1 U/I T/E E/A.

H.  2 Me 109’s destroyed, 1 U/I T/E E/A destroyed and 1 Me 109 damaged.

I.  On April 10th around 1300 I was leading Yellow Section of Hellcat Squadron when we sighted about 20 aircraft on Wesendorf A/D-about 16 on the northwest and southwest dispersals and 4 in front of the hangar area at the north end of the field.  Leading my wingman across in a steep strafing pass southwest to northeast in order to test for flak, I fired a long burst at an unidentified T/E E/A (9).  I saw a very strong concentration of hits on this aircraft and it started smoking.  Flying back over this plane later, I saw both it and (10) burning.  I therefore claim this U/I T/E E/A (9) as destroyed (and substantiate my wingman, Lt. Maloney’s claim to (10)).  One pass was all we made on this airdrome because the flak was intense, especially from (Y).

My wingman and I continued on the deck after this attack for about 7 miles.  When we pulled up and started a 180 to the left, we sighted about 8 S/E E/A parked on the edge of a forest 10 miles northwest of Wesendorf.  I made three passes on these planes and Lt. Maloney made 2 – all from the southwest.  On my first pass I hit an Me 109 (11) parked on the edge of the trees and saw it start to smoke.  The trees obscured good observation so I claim this aircraft as only damaged.  On the second pass I hit another Me 109 (12) that exploded, and I claim this E/A as destroyed.  On my next and last pass I hit an Me 109 (13) and since it caught on fire I claim it, too, as destroyed.  On leaving the area I observed 4 fires – the 2 E/A I claim and the 2 (14 and 15) claimed by Lt. Maloney.

J.  Ammunition Expended – 1525 Rounds.

CLIFFORD C. GOULD, O-756546,

1st Lieut., Air Corps.

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Clifford Gould of the 55th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Clifford Gould's combat experience.

Combat Reports

Clifford Gould's official WW2 combat report of 04/16/1945

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  55th Fighter Group