WWII Pilot Combat Report - H.L. Mills

H.L. Mills

4th Fighter Group 02/20/1944

Confidential Headquarters Fourth Fighter Group A.P.O. 637 U.S. Army Pilot's Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. 245

Combat 20 Feb 44 334 Fighter Squadron Approx. 1500 hours Aachen area 10/10ths at 10,000 ft. Hazy up to 25,000 ft. FW 190 1 FW 190 Destroyed I was flying Pectin White 1 and saw two FW 190s attacking a box of Fortresses from 6 o'clock. I dove at them and fired a burst at 800 yards, trying to scare them off before they could fire at the Fortresses. They did not see me and the leading e/a opened fire and got strikes on a Fort. I was closing extremely fast and opened fire again at 300 yards. Both e/a broke hard port and down. I tried to pull through with enough deflection but saw no strikes before I flicked out. These two e/a broke for the deck and as soon as I could straighten out I chased them but they evaded in cloud before I could close again. I saw a P-47 chasing another FW 190 below me and started after them. The P-47 started to overshoot and broke to the right. I closed in on the e/a, firing from astern and above. He pulled up ahead of me and I pulled through deflection so that he was under my nose, and opened fire, firing until I was less than 50 yards from him. I broke at the last instant to keep from ramming him. The e/a pulled off slowly to my left, smoking slightly, and the pilot bailed out in front of Capt. Care, Pectin Blue 1, who was followed me. Claim e/a destroyed

Ammunition: 704 rounds fired H.L. Mills Captain, Air Corps. Confirmation I was following Capt. Mills in the above engagement and saw the pilot of the e/a bail out. His chute opened right in front of me, and I tried to take his picture but could not get the switch 'to camera only' in time. I confirm this claim of 1 FW 190 destroyed. R.C. Care Captain, Air Corps.

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

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