WWII Pilot Combat Report - FRED HAVILAND

FRED HAVILAND

355th Fighter Group 06/21/1944

HEADQUARTERS 355 TH FIGHTER GROUP A . P . O . 637 , U.S. ARMY Pilot's Personal Encounter Report

A . Combat B . 2 1 June , 194 4 C . 3 5 7 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1 1 50 E . North of Madgeburg F . 7/10's coverage of strato -cumulus at tops of 10,000 feet. Very hazy on ground , making air-to-ground visibility poor. G . Me 109's H . 1 Me 109 destroyed I . ACCOUNT OF COMBAT: I was flying Custard Blue 2. We were coming home at 17,000 feet from an escort to Ruhland when 5 or 6 Me 109's flew up along side of us, thinking we were friendly and when they saw we were not, they jettisoned t h eir fuselage tanks. The E/A's broke into us from about 10 o'clock and our flight turned into them; at that time, one of the E/A's made a head -on pass at me, firing as he passed. I tacked onto him and we rat-raced down to about 3,000 feet, with the E/A taking very violent evasive action. At 1,000 feet, I dumped about 20 degree flaps and made a turn inside him and started to get within firing range, when the E/A made an abrupt turn, snapped over and crashed into the ground, exploding as he hit the ground. I was looking right at him as he hit and exploded, and he disintegrated in the violent explosion . I claim 1 Me 109 destroyed .

FRED R. HAVILAND , JR. , Captain, Air Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by FRED HAVILAND of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of FRED HAVILAND's combat experience.

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