Howard Askelton

78th Fighter Group 11/26/1943


 

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER

83rd FIGHTER SQUADRON

INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT

REFERENCE U.S. F.O. NO. 191

 

  1. Combat.
  2. 26 November, 1943.
  3. 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group.
  4. 1030 hours.
  5. Paris
  6. 8/10 low cloud, 1/10 middle cloud, no high clou, visibility fair.
  7. ME-109.
  8. 1 ME-109 destroyed. 2 ME-109’s: no claim pending assessment of film.
  9. I was leading Cleveland Blue Flight on a mission escorting B-17’s to Paris. Over the target area I saw three ME-109’s at 9 o’clock, level with the bombers, starting for an attack. I came out of the sun into an astern position on them. I closed to about 450 yards and opened fire just as they saw us. I continued firing from 10 degree reflection down to line astern, closing to 200 yards. I saw strikes and he began to smoke from the wing roots, then with another burst, he more or less stopped, and started straight down, with some fire and a lot of black smoke. I gave him a seven or eight second burst, in total. I then turned 90 degrees to the left and took a head on shot at another ME-109; he went to the deck and I saw the results of my fire. I then looked back to the right to the area where I shot up the first 109, and saw a large sheet of flames and an explosion close to the ground; I believe this was the same E/A. I then made a head on pass at another ME-109 who bounced us, but observed no results.

 

Howard S. Askelton

1st Lt., AIr Corps,

83rd Fighter Squadron

 

Supporting statement of claim:

I was No.2 in Cleveland Blue Flight flying on Lt. Askeltom’s wing. I followed him down on three ME-109’s and saw his bursts strike behind and in front of the cockpit and saw white smoke come from the engine. At that point I pulled up about 1,000 feet and lost sight of the ME-109 and did not see him again.

William T. Chapman

1st Lt., Air Corps,

83rd Fighter Squadron.

 


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


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