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David Schilling

56th Fighter Group 10/08/1943

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY- SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION #365 A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. 1 5 1 C ombat
October 8 , 1943 6 2nd Fighter Squadron 1540 hours. Vicinity Quakenbruck 2/10 cloud, vertical visibility good, horizontal fair. FW 190 One FW 190 claimed de stroyed . Narrative: I was leading the 56 th Fighter Group on a bomber withdrawal support mission and, having made rendezvous, we swung to the rear of the first formation of the First Task Force and started to position ourselves. At this point the undersigned noticed a couple of stragglers behind the first formation, one about two miles back at 24,000' and the second about five miles away at 20,000', the latter being attacked individually by four or five enemy aircraft. Woodfire White Three called, saying that he had a nice bounce set up and I told him to go down, adding that I would give him top cover. Shortly after that, I saw an FW 190, with either a bomb or belly tank under the fuselage, make a pass on another straggler from eight o'clock, then swinging to starboard he went in toward the bomber at about 20,000'. Leaving a flight upstairs for cover, I made a straight diving attack to about 19/20,000', came up from below to his level and about 600 yards dead astern. I opened fire at 400 yards and closed to 250/300 yards. I could plainly see strikes on his left wing and fuselage. Then, there was a large flash from the left wing root and black smoke began pouring out. The Jerry fell off to the right and I last saw him going down smoking. As I pulled up, however, Woodfire White Two saw him go into a dive and also observed a chute floating earthward. I claim one FW 190 destroyed .

J. A /C No. 4 2 - 7938 Ammo fired – 323 round s API &T DAVID C. SCHILLING, Major , Air Corps . I was flying White Two and saw the action described above. Strikes were observed all over the Jerry's cockpit and engine and the enemy aircraft started smoking badly. The ship flipped over on its back and then went straight down, burning and smoking. White One and I then pulled up and, as I banked, I looked back and saw the pilot's chute opening. JOHN B. EAVES, 1 st Lt., Air Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by David Schilling of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of David Schilling's combat experience.

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