HERVEY STOCKMAN
339th Fighter Group 07/29/1944
A. Combat. B. 29 July 1944. C. 504th Fighter Squadron. D. 1015. E. Vicinity between Merseburg & Naumburg. F. Clear with 9/10 overcast between 8,500 and 9,000 feet. G. ME 109's. H. 1 ME 109 Destroyed. 1 ME 109 Probably destroyed. 1 ME 109 Damaged. I. a. 1st Lt., HERVEY S. STOCKMAN, O-691195, 504th Ftr. Sq. I had lost my flight leader and his wingman through the cloud layer at 9,000 feet. We were after e/a sighted at 22,000 feet between Merseburg and Naumburg. My wingman Lt. Trester, was still with me. I pulled up to about 8,000 feet and spotted a P-51 chasing an ME 109. I joined, started firing at about 500 yards observing hits. The ME 109 started smoking badly – looked like coolant. He finally made the thin cloud layer at between 8,500 and 9,000 feet. I got in two more 1½ second bursts before I lost him in the scud. He was having trouble and had lost a lot of speed. I sighted two more ME 109's in the cloud layer. I pulled up through it and then let down behind one at about 300 yards, scoring a few hits on his fuselage before he lost me in the soup. I was climbing up to join our bombers who appeared to be under attack. At 17,000 ft I saw three ME 109's flying a tight three ship formation at about 14,000 feet. I dropped down on them up-sun from about 7 o'clock. They sighted us at about 2,000 yards and gave their ships full boost. Our run of closure was rapid, at about 300 - 250 yards. I opened up on left man of the three ships. I observed strikes immediately on tail surfaces He moved slowly out to left where more hits knocked pieces out of his fuselage and tail section. He suddenly flamed behind cockpit, dropped off on right wing and exploded as I passed him. Lt. Trester was scoring hits on the middle man at same time. I made right 360° turn and came around to see other two ships spinning down with engines cut. The right wingman recovered and evaded in the cloud layer at 9,000 feet. The lead ship spun through the overcast and I lost him in the haze below. Lt. Trester spun out in turn and lost me. I was low on gas so turned toward home. Joined two minutes later by ships of my Squadron and two others from 357th Group. I claim 1 ME 109 Destroyed, 1 ME 109 probably destroyed, 1 ME 109 Damaged. HERVEY S. STOCKMAN, 1st Lt., A.C. 504th Fighter Squadron.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by HERVEY STOCKMAN of the 339th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of HERVEY STOCKMAN's combat experience.
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