4th Fighter Group 01/14/1944
HEADQUARTERS
FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP
A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY
PILOT’S PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT
VIII FIGHTER COMMAND F.O. 217
While flying Green 4 at 25,000 feet over Cambrai, my leader, Green 1 dove down at a group of 12 FW 190s. Green 3 and I, each singled one out. At 7,000 feet this FW 190 came in from the left at a slight dive. I gave him a short burst and seeing no results—the FW 190 then pulled off to the left in a steep spiral climb and at the same time ready to flick on his back—gave him a 3-second burst at about a ring and a quarter deflection. I immediately saw an explosion around his engine and cockpit which enveloped in a mass of flames. I also thought I saw his belly tank or rocket gun break off, but Lt. Lang, flying Green 2, says the pilot baled (sic) out while his aircraft was on its back.
J. Ammunition: 401 rounds
H.T. Biel,
2nd Lt., Air Corps
I was flying Green 2 to Lt. Beeson when he dove on a group of 12 FW 190s. Green 1 attacked two stragglers, hitting and destroying one of them. The other FW 190 peeled off to the left as we broke to the right. At this time I saw Green 4 (Lt. Biel) firing at the FW 190 that broke left. The E/A went over on its back, the pilot baled (sic) out at 1500 feet and the ship went down trailing smoke and pieces flying off. I saw the plane crash in an open field in the vicinity of Cambrai.
J. L. Lang
2nd Lt., Air Corps
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Hipolitus T Biel of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Hipolitus T Biel's combat experience.
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