Duane Beeson
4th Fighter Group 01/31/1944
HEADQUARTERS
FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP
A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY
PILOTS PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT
VIII FIGHTER COMMAND – 65th W.F.O. 85
A. Combat
B. 31 Jan 44
C. 334 Fighter Squadron
D. 1455 hours
E. Gilze-Rijen
F. Low haze, good visibility
G. Me 109
H. 1 Me 109 Destroyed
I. . . . . . Pectin’s Red and Green sections were giving fighter support to the two sections of our squadron who dive-bombed Gilze-Rijen Aerodrome, and as we orbited near the target about 20 plus Me 109s were seen above preparing to bounce.
I was leading Green section and saw a 109 diving down to attack a section of P-47s, so dived after him to cut him off. He evidently saw us coming and turned into us, but he started his turn too late and I was able to get on his tail after flicking out a few times. I opened fire at about 300 yards and observed some good strikes around his cockpit and engine. He had begun to climb before I opened fire, but as my shots hit him he fell off into a dive and smoke and flame began coming from the starboard side on his engine. When I saw him again most of the fuselage was covered in flame, and the a/c was going straight down. This combat took place from 20,000 feet down to approximately 15,000 feet. Claim 1 Me 109 Destroyed.
Ammunition: A.P.I.
245 rounds fired
D W. Beeson,
1st Lt., Air Corps.
Confirmation – I was flying Pectin Green 2 position to Lt. Beeson when he attacked a Me 109. After he finished firing, the e/a was on fire, with flames spreading from the engine back to the tail. I saw the e/a hit the ground.
J.L. Lang,
2nd Lt., Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Duane Beeson of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Duane Beeson's combat experience.
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