Fletcher Adams

357th Fighter Group 04/11/1944


ENCOUNTER REPORT

1ST LT. FLETCHER E. ADAMS, O-740324

 

A.  COMBAT

B.  11 APRIL 1944.  F.O.#295, HQ, VIII FTR. COMMAND

C.  362ND FTR. SQDN., 357TH FTR. GROUP

D.  1110 D.S.T.

E.  20 MILES N. OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY

F.  SLIGHT HAZE.  LOW CUMULUS 1,000 FT. OFF GROUND

G.  TWO (2) ME 109’S

H.  ONE PILOT BAILED OUT; ONE SPUN IN.

I.  I WAS NO. 3 MAN IN JUDSON GREEN FLIGHT.  WE HAD BEEN WITH THE BOMBERS ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN WE JUMPED 3 ME 109’S AT 22,000 FT.  MY FLIGHT LEADER, LT. JOHN ENGLAND, TOOK THE TAIL-END PLANE AND DOVE TO THE DECK.  I PEELED OFF ON THE SECOND ONE AND TOOK HIM TO THE DECK.  THE ENEMY PLANE TOOK EVASIVE ACTION IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS, TURNING AND SKIDDING.  I FIRED SEVERAL BURSTS WHEN HE WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS.  I OBSERVED STRIKES ON HIS FUSILAGE WHEN I FIRED FROM 250 YDS., DOING 325 M.P.H.  A LIGHT STREAM OF BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE PLANE AND HE WENT INTO A CLOUD.  I WENT OVER THE CLOUD AND NEXT SAW THE PILOT IN A PARACHUTE.

GOING IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS I SAW A PLANE BEHIND ME WHICH I ASSUMED TO BE MY WING MAN.  WHEN I TURNED, HOWEVER, HE BEGAN TO SHOOT AT ME FROM ABOUT 500 YARDS.  I WENT DOWN IN EVASIVE ACTION TO ABOUT 20 FEET AND PULLED UP SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT.  THE ENEMY PLANE ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW THIS MANEUVER.  AFTER I HAD NEARLY COMPLETED A 360 DEGREE TURN I SAW THE ENEMY PLANE SPIN IN TO THE GROUND, EXPLODE, AND BURN.  I SAW NO PARACHUTE THIS TIME.

I CLAIM TWO (2) ME 109’S DESTROYED.

J.  690 ROUNDS

 

FLETCHER E. ADAMS,

1ST LT., AIR CORPS

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Fletcher Adams of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Fletcher Adams's combat experience.

See More

Fletcher Adams: Personnel File

Combat Reports

Fletcher Adams's official WW2 combat report of 03/18/1944
Fletcher Adams's official WW2 combat report of 05/27/1944

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