WWII Pilot Combat Report - HARRY ROFF

HARRY ROFF

78th Fighter Group 02/10/1944

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 8 3 RD FIGHTER SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT REFERENCE F.C. F.O. NO. 2 39 Combat . 10 Februa ry, 1944. 8 3 rd Fighter Squadron , 78 A Group. 1 0 30 hours. Near Lingen . 4-6 /10 low cloud, 6/10 middle cloud , nil high cloud . Excellent visibility. ME 109s . 1 ME 109 destroyed ; 1 ME 109 pending assessment of film.

Narrative: I was leading Lockyear Blue Flight on a bomber escort mission. We followed Red Flight in a spiraling dive from 29,000 feet to 15,000. I singled out one of the many 109s and fired repeatedly while closing from 400 to 600 yards with deflection 30 0 -0 0 . I saw repeated strikes, fragments, and observed smoke. He went into a flat spin and bailed out. I then attacked a flight of four 109s. They started a spiraling climb and, even with my ship drawing 65 inches, I could not close to less than 400 yards. The turn was so tight I could not get a deflection shot. My air speed became as low as 130 IAS. The e/a straightened out and started to outrun me. I then went into a 45 degree dive to the left, firing repeatedly, with 40 0 to 10 0 deflection at IAS of 300. I observed no strikes on the Hun. I had closed my throttle, which caused the plane to skid. I broke away at approximately 50 yards. SUPPORTING STATEMENT OF CLAIM: I was wingman to Lt. Roff who was leader of Blue Flight. Lt. Roff bounced a ME 109 at about 23,000 feet. I saw flashes on the starboard wing and in the canopy of the ME 109. The e/a began to smoke, rolled to the left, and went into a flat spin. After three or four turns, the pilot of the e/a left his ship and immediately opened his chute.

HARRY C. ROFF, JR. 1 st Lt., Air Corps , 83 rd Fighter Squadron. 11 Febru ary, 1944 JOHN D. MOTSENBOCKER 2 nd Lt., Air Corps, 83 rd Fighter Squadron

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by HARRY ROFF of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of HARRY ROFF's combat experience.

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