WWII Pilot Combat Report - Elbert Tilton

Elbert Tilton

359th Fighter Group 08/09/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT LT. ELBERT W. TILTON

A. Combat

B. 9 August 1944

C. 270th Fighter Squadron

D. 1115 to 1130 hours

E. Vicinity of Gunsburg

F. Hazy

G. Me 109

H. One (1) Me 109 destroyed in air

I. I was flying Blue Three but when Blue Leader came back I took over Blue Flight. In the area of Gunsburg we ran across a bunch of Me 109's. I picked one out and followed him around. The first burst I observed strikes on the wing root and right side of the fuselage and pieces started coming off. I overshot him so I turned away and came back. I then managed to get on his tail. By this time we were losing altitude very fast. When I got in range I let him have it dead astern, pieces of the aircraft flew off and then the pilot bailed out. I followed the plane and took a picture of it burning. Then I came back and took a picture of the pilot in the chute. This action all took place between 28,000 feet and the deck. The approximate distance when firing was 500 ft. I also saw Lt. Jones who was flying White Two hit a Me 109 and it started to smoke. He said, the pilot had already bailed out. I claim one (1) Me 109 destroyed in air.

J. Ser. No. of A/C: 6902 A/C Markings : CS-C Ammunition expended: 626 rds of API. /s Elbert W . Tilton ELBERT W. TILTON, 2 nd Lt, Air Corps, 359 th Fighter Group /s John M. Benton JOHN M. BENTON, 1 st Lt. Air Corps. Intelligence Officer I saw smoke coming from the woods where the E/A that Blue Leader shot down had crashed. Looking around I saw a c hute floating over the woods which I believe came from the E/A he destroyed. /s Cyril W. Jones, J r. Calvin W. Jones, Jr. 2 nd Lt, Air Corps, 359 th Ftr . Gp / 23

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Elbert Tilton of the 359th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Elbert Tilton's combat experience.

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