Don Blakeslee
4th Fighter Group 01/07/1944
HEADQUARTERS
FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP
A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY
PILOT’S ENGAGEMENT REPORT
VIII FIGHTER COMMAND F.O. 215
- Combat.
- 7 Jan 1944.
- 336th Fighter Squadron.
- 1330-1340
- Hesdin Area.
- 6/10 at 3,000 feet.
- FW 190’s.
- 1 FW 190 destroyed.
- Narrative:
I was flying with 336th Fighter Squadron, leading the Fourth Fighter Group, and covering the withdrawal of Fortresses. When in the vicinity of Hesdin, I saw four to six FW 190’s attacking straggling Forts. I went down to attack, but was cut off by some Spitfires, which were also in the area. I broke up violently, and in the maneuver lost my number 2, 3, and 4 men, and joined up with Red section, led by Capt. Goodson. As I was climbing up I squirted at a FW 190 in a vertical dive. I had climbed up 12 to 14,000 feet when I saw more FW 190’s attacking straggling Forts. I went down on these, being covered by Capt. Goodson’s section, and chased one e/a down to between 2 and 3,000 feet after another FW 190 had made a few head-on passes at me. At 3,000 feet I was holding my own with the FW 190 in turning maneuvers when I was attacked by 3 FW 190’s from astern. One of these scored hits on my a/c, but these were taken off my tail by Capt. Goodson. The e/a I was attacking suddenly broke off the turn, straightened out and went into haze. I followed and as he came out I was dead line astern. I opened up from 250 yards and fired a 3 to 4 second burst, observing strikes on the e/a tail and starboard wing. Pieces came from the cockpit. The e/a then did a half-flick to the right and went in, hitting the ground a quarter mile west of a small town. My R/T had been shot out and my a/c was spraying oil badly. I came out over Boulogne at 4,000 feet and, escorted by Capt. Goodson, landed at Manston. I claim 1 FW 190 destroyed.
J. Ammunition Expended: Report not available, a/c another station.
D. J. M. Blakeslee
Lt. Col., Air Corps,
Commanding
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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