J.J. OBERHANSLY

78th Fighter Group 02/22/1944

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23 February 1944 Type of Action: Combat Date: 22 February 1944 Unit: 82 nd Fighter Squadron Time of Attack: 1510 hours Place of Attack: Cologne to Walcheren Island Areas Weather: Clear – good visibility. Type of Target: Three FW-190's & two ME-109's. Enemy Casualties: One FW-190 & one ME-109 destroyed; one ME-109 damaged. Also, two FW-190's shared destroyed with Lt. C. Hotchkiss of the 83 rd Squadron. Account of Combat: I was Greywall Leader, leading 78 A Group. Just as we were about to R/V with the second box of bombers, we saw about 30-40 E/A turn away from the bombers and start heading inland. The E/A had evidently seen us coming. I peeled off and led the Group after them. I picked out two ME-109's, flying close formation, which took evasive action. My windshield was covered with oil and my sight useless, so I sprayed the two E/A generally from 600 yds., noting one strike on the wingman. Then I closed to about 250 yds., turned my sight on brighter and gave the leader a short burst from dead astern; all my strikes were in the vicinity of the cockpit. He blew up and went spinning down enveloped in flames. The pilot did not get out. As my element leader had gone after the Me-109 I had damaged, I pulled up to 12,000 ft. to cover his tail. We reformed and headed home heading for the bombers. In the vicinity of Gilze-Rijen , I saw a FW-190 heading inland at about 8,000 ft. He had evidently been damaged by the Fortresses, for one of his wheels was down. However, he was under full control and heading for home. My wingman and I came out of the sun on him, dead astern, and I closed to about 500 yds. And fired a burst, which went under him. Then I closed to about 200 yds. And fired a 2 second burst and the E/A blew up into many pieces. I saw him, or what was left of him, crash on the ground. The pilot did not get out. My wingman and I went down toward the deck. When we were at about 1,000 ft., my wingman called saying we were being bounced by two FW-190's from the rear. I saw the E/A and steepend my dive, preparing to break, doing about 450 MPH, taking evasive action. The E/A were about 800 yds. Astern trying to get lined up on us, evidently preparing to open fire on us. They converged and crashed into each other. The wing of one came off and the fuselage of the other was cut in two. One crashed into the water off Walcheren Island and the other hit the ground near the waters edge. Neither pilot got out, as they were too low to the ground to attempt it. We joined two P-47's from another group and came on home. I claim one FW-190 and one ME-109 destroyed; and one ME-109 damaged. Also, two FW-190's shared destroyed with Lt. C. Hotchkiss of the 83 rd Fighter Squadron, my wingman, as a result of their destruction due to our taking evasive action. J.J. OBERHANSLY Major, Air Corps, Commanding.

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

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  78th Fighter Group