WWII Pilot Combat Report - Dorian Ledington

Dorian Ledington

78th Fighter Group 06/10/1944

84 th FIGHTER SQUADRON 78 TH FIGHTER GROUP VIII FIGHTER COMMAND FIELD ORDER NO. 381

Pilot Lieut. Dorian Ledington Combat 82 nd Fighter Squadron 10 June 1944 1415 Hours La Forte Mace, France 10/10ths low clouds – visibility, poor Me-109 One (1) Me-109 Destroyed Account of Combat I ended up flying Red Three with Lt. Hardin as Red Four. We made a bombing run on a trestle. As we pulled up we were bounced from six o'clock about 20 plus ME 109's. I called them off two times and then I broke. In the following fight I shot short burst at a number of ME 109's head-on otherwise. I finally got one line astern. I opened fire at 250 yards. I closed to 125 yards. I observed hits on his right wing. H e then broke and got some hits on wing roots and on top of his fuselage. He jettisoned his hood and later bailed out at 300 feet. His chute didn't open. The aircraft rolled over on its back and hit the ground and exploded. I claim one (1) ME 109 dest royed

DORAIN LEDINGTON 1 st . Lieut., Air Corps

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Dorian Ledington of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Dorian Ledington's combat experience.

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