George Carpenter

4th Fighter Group 04/08/1944


HEADQUARTERS

FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP

A.P.O. 637, U.S. ARMY

 

PILOTS PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT

VIII Fighter Command F.O. 291

 

A. Combat

B. 8 April, 1944

C. 335th Fighter Squadron

D. 1325 hours

E. Celle area, Germany

F. Clear

G. FW-190’s

H. Two FW-190’s Destroyed      

I.      I was leading the Fourth Group on a bomber support mission to Brunswick.  About a half hour after crossing in the enemy coast, while about twenty miles Southwest of Bremen, Goldsmith 1-3 informed us that he was being attacked.  We dropped tanks, turned to intercept Goldsmith who was at 2 and 3 o’clock to us, and opened up.  However, when we reached the bombers they reported themselves as happy, and since there were at least two other Mustang groups with them at the time, we passed out in front of them and flew toward our R/V point which was Northeast of Celle about 20 miles.  Just about the time we reached the Celle area, Lt. Fiedler, who was flying Greenbelt Red 3, called me and reported many A/C at 10 o’clock.  These A/C were flying very close formation and, from a distance, looked much like a box of bombers.  We turned toward them and met them more or less head-on, since they were flying in a South Westerly direction.  Six of them intercepted the big boys.  There were at least 75-100 FW-190’s and Me-109’s.  We attacked at once with all squadrons but were unable to prevent some of the E/A attacking the lead bombers and knocking four or five of them down.

     I picked out an FW-190 and followed him down to about 8000 feet where I got in a couple good bursts with good results.  The E/A then went into a spin and I kept stalking him, thinking it was an evasive maneuver.  However, the 190 did not recover and I saw it crash in a field with a great orange ball of flame.

     I then pulled up a little, saw another FW-190 and got behind him.  After following him through some rather violent actions down to the deck, I got a couple good bursts into him with several strikes in the cockpit area.  He jettisoned his hood but I did not see him bail out.  I saw him crash three or four seconds later.  I then returned to base.

 

A/C Used:  P-51B 5NA  43-6575

Ammunition Used:  340 rnds. 50 Cal. API & T

 

                                           GEORGE CARPENTER

                                             Major, Air Corps,

                                           Pilot     

 

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by George Carpenter of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of George Carpenter's combat experience.


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