Francis Walsh
353rd Fighter Group 02/24/1944
I. Narrative: I was flying Basement White 3 in Lt. Col. Duncan's flight when we rendezvoused with the rear box of B-24s. The colonel spotted about 8 FW 190s that had just attacked the bombers and were queuing up again below the "big friends" for another attack. We bounced these e/a from 23,000 feet, and contact was made at approximately 15,000 feet, vicinity of Steinhuder Lake. I had a deflection shot at one of these red-nosed 190s but observed no hits. Then I closed to dead astern, fired a short burst that hit the Jerry on the left wing root. The whole left wing broke off in pieces that flew back at me. This action was accompanied by a burst of flame. The last I saw of the FW 190, the ship was disintegrating. Combat took place from 15,000 to 7,000 feet. My wingman, Lt. Rowan, after I started zooming back up, saw a FW 190 trying to get on my tail. He shot the Jerry off and observed him spinning on down. It was a very good piece of teamwork on the part of my wingman. I claim one FW 190 destroyed. FRANCIS T. WALSH, 1st Lt., Air Corps.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Francis Walsh of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Francis Walsh's combat experience.
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