Don Blakeslee

4th Fighter Group 04/24/1944

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HEADQUARTERS

FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP

A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY

 

PILOT’S PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT

VIII Fighter Command F.O. 312

 

1. Combat
2. 24 April 1944
3. Hq., 4^th Fighter Group, (Flying with 335 Squadron)
4. 1240 hours
5. North of Worms
6. Clear
7. Fw-190’s
8. 1 Fw-190 Destroyed; 1 Fw-190 Destroyed, shared with Capt. Schlegel of 335 Squadron.
1. Narrative:

            I was leading the Group on a Free Lance Sweep to the Frankfurt Area in conjunction with a bombing attack in the Munich Area. We arrived in the vicinity of Frankfurt at 25,000 feet at 1233 hours, turned south and started to lose altitude to 10,000 feet. A gaggle of about 35 FW 190’s were reported as being at 10,000 feet going south toward the bomber track. There were two FW’s above and to the rear of the main formation. We turned starboard into the sun and climbed above and behind them. As we did this the 2 FW’s dropped their tanks and weaved violently above the enemy formation. However the main gaggle continued to proceed on their southerly course and did not take any evasive action.

 

            335 and 334 Sqdns attacked in more or less a line abreast formation with 336 Sqdn giving the top cover. I picked out an FW 190 3^rd or 4^th in from the port side of the gaggle and opened fire, obtaining strikes. The E/A broke hard left and up and then evaded to the deck. I started to give chase but had several others on my tail so I broke off and engaged another FW-190. We went around in tight circles and I got in a few bursts, when he headed to the southeast I got on his tail, opening at 300 yards with a 2 second burst, finally closing to 150 yards. I was getting strikes on him, when I saw him jettison his hood and helmet. I overshot him, and as I did so, I saw him unfastening his straps and watched him jump out at 600 feet. His chute opened just above the ground.

 

            I climbed to rejoin the battle and at 6,000 feet I saw an FW 190 diving away to the south. I dove after him and at 2,000 feet he started a left turn. I opened fire at 300 yards closing to 200 and saw strikes along the cockpit. The E/A then straightened out and glided for an open field as if to crash land. I got on his tail and was ready to open fire again when Captain Schlegel of 335 Sqdn came in getting strikes in the cockpit. The E/A went straight into the ground and exploded.

 

            I then joined up with other P-51’s, reformed the group and headed back for base.

 

J.       Ammunition: I fired 325 rounds.

 

D. J. M. BLAKESLEE,

Colonel, Air Corps.

 

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Don Blakeslee of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Don Blakeslee's combat experience.

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  4th Fighter Group