WWII Pilot Combat Report - Gerald Johnson

Gerald Johnson

56th Fighter Group 02/21/1944

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY FIRST FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION F- 365 , APO 637 U.S. ARMY Encounter Report VIII F ighter C ommand F.O. No. 2 46

Major Gerald W . Johnson Halstead White One a . Combat b . 21 February, 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56 th Fighter Group d . 1 52 0 hours e . N orthwest of Zwolle f . 3 /10 at 3 ,000 ft ., visibility good. g . FW-190 h . 1 FW-190 d estroyed i . I was leading Halstead squadron in "B" group. We made r/v with the last two boxes of B-17's near Osnabruck at 26,000 ft. to give them withdrawal support. We continued with them without incident until just East of the Zuider Zee when I saw 5 e/a queueing up for an attack on a straggler which had dropped down to about 10,000 feet, and behind the rear box. As we started down on them they broke up and only one continued his attack on the bomber and he was shot down by the bomber. I turned on an FW-190 which had broken left and at about 10,000 ft. closed to about 250 yds. and gave him a burst from dead astern. The entire burst seemed to hit the fuselage causing large pieces to fly off. As I pulled up over him in a turn he was going down in a slow spiral. My wing man and I both saw him hit the ground shortly after. I do not know if the pilot bailed out. We then started climbing back up to a fight that my Blue flight was in at about 25,000 feet, but it was over before we could get there. We turned back to the bombers and continued hom e without further incident. I claim one FW-190 d estroyed . j. 241 rds .50 cal A.P.I.

GERALD W . JOHNSON, Major , Air Corps .

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Gerald Johnson of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Gerald Johnson's combat experience.

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