George Hall

1 st Lt. George

F. Hall. a . Combat b . 30 January 1944 c . 6 3rd Fighter Squadron , 56 th Fighter Group d . 1 2 5 5 to 1300 hours e . South of Quakenbruck f . 10/10 at 6 , 000 feet g . 4 Me 10 9's h . 2 Me 10 9's D estroyed ; 2 Me 10 9's Damaged i . I was flying White 3 in Northgrove Squadron, White f light consisting of ( Col. Landry , Lts . Wisniewski, Hall, and Langdon ). A short time before we were supposed to r/v with the bombers we sighted a big formation of the big friends to our left at about 10 o'clock to us. About 2 minutes later, Blue flight sighted a box of twin engine e/a to their left and heading for the bombers. Upon investigation they proved to be Ju 88's and Me 210's. Just as the rest of Northgrove squadron got there, the e/a broke and some went down. On each time I would try to make an attack, 2 or more P-47's would beat me to it. Lt. Langdon, my wing man and I finally pulled up and gained height. I then tried to join with White 1 and 2 but they could not give me their position. I climbed on up to 23,000 feet and started escorting the last of 3 small boxes of B-24's. I maneuvered over to their left, up-sun. Soon I spotted a flight of single engine e/a off at 10 o'clock and about 2,000 feet below. The e/a were making a left turn and passed under me. I started to attack but saw 3 more e/a behind . I pulled up to attack these e/a. I then noticed more e/a behind the second group. I was fairly certain that they were Me 109's but we had been briefed that Spits would be in the area. By this time they were in a pack of 15 and we were the only P-47's in that area. I closed up to the right hand corner man, flew close formation on his right wing for a few seconds just long enough to see the black cross on his fuselage. I then pulled everything back and slid in behind him. I fired and saw hits all over the e/a. Pieces flew off and he went down in flames. I claim this Me 109 destroyed. I then slid over and got another of the Me 109's in my sights. I pulled the trigger and he pulled up sharply then fell off to the left. I was so busy that I did not see what happened to him but he was definitely hit. I claim this Me 109 as damaged. I then fired at another Me 109 and smoke poured out from it . The Me 109 pulled up slightly and slowly over and then went down like a falling leaf. His belly tank blew off and there was an explosion where it had been. I claim this Me 109 destroyed. Personal Combat Report – Lt. G.

F. Hall, 30/1/44,

F. O. #227 (Cont'd . ) Tracers had started to come from my guns and the fourth e/a at which I fired was turning slightly to the left. He ran through my fire and I observed strikes on him. I claim this Me 109 as damaged. Realizing that I was out of ammunition, I called my wing man, Lt. Langdon, to break off. He had passed me when I pulled everything back to get the first Me 109. I saw him fire at one Me 109 and there was an explosion in the left wing root. Shortly afterwards I caught sight of an object off another Me 109, which I believe was either the canopy or the pilot bailing out. About this time another P-47 entered my flight and as we broke away a flight of P-47's from the 352 nd Group came in. We climbed back up to 20,000 feet on the course home, passing bombers until about 20 miles off the English Coast. It is evident that the e/a were not aware we were there although they had plenty of opportunity to see us. I claim 2 Me 109's destroyed and 2 Me 109's damaged.