WWII Pilot Combat Report - JACK LEON

JACK LEON

20th Fighter Group 01/14/1945

EN CO UN T ER REPORT LT. JACK D. LEON A . C OMBAT

B . 14 JANUARY , 1945 C . 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 20TH FIGHTER GROUP D . 1 248 HOURS E . PERLEBERG, GERMANY F . CLEAR G . TWO FW 190S H . TWO (2) FW 190 S DESTROYED I . I WAS FLYING YELLOW 3 . WE WERE ESCORTING BOMBERS TO MAGDEBURG. THE SQUADRON LEADER LED A BOUNCE ON A GAGGLE OF 109S. I SAW THREE FW 190S AT 1100 O'CLOCK TO ME AND ABOUT 500 FEET BELOW, HEADED TOWARD A GROUP OF OUR FIGHTERS. I SWUNG INTO THEM , PICKING ONE AND OPENING FIRE FROM 2-300 YARDS, GIVING HIM A LONG BURST. I RACKED MY SHIP UP TO STAY WITH HIM, FIRING ALL THE TIME, MY GYRO SIGHT WENT OUT, SO I REVERTED TO FIXED GUN SIGHT. I SAW STRIKES, AND SAW WHAT I VELIEVE TO BE PIECES FLY FROM HIS SHIP. I WAS ABOVE HIM AND SPLIT S'D STILL FOLLOWING HIM, WHEN I LEVEL L ED OFF BEHIND HIM, HE BAILED OUT. I CLAIM ONE (1) FW 190 DESTROYED I SAW A STRAGGLING FORT AT 15,000 FEET BEING ATTACKED BY 2 FW 190'S. I WENT AFTER THEM, GIVING THE LAST 190 OF THE TWO A SHORT BURST, BUT CONCENTRATED MY FIRE ON THE LEAD 190. I FIRST OBSERVED FROM 400 FEET. CLOSING FAST I KEPT FIRING AND IMMEDIATELY HE BEGAN TO BURN. WHEN I WAS APPROX. 20 YARDS DEAD ASTERN, THE E/A EXPLODED. HE WAS IN APPROX. _ PIECES WHEN I LAST SAW HIM. I CLAIM O NE ( 1 ) FW 19 0 DESTROYED .

J. SER . NO . OF A/C: 44-1 43 19 A/C MARKINGS: KI - M AMMO EXPENDED: 7 7 8 R OUN DS 50 C AL . API JACK D. LEON 2ND LT ., A IR C ORPS, O-1998608 CLIFFORD W. LONG 1ST LT., A IR CORPS, INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 1 st FW190 No apparent hits 2 nd hits in tail, closed to close range well hit. ME109 left aileron off. Film cut short

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JACK LEON of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JACK LEON's combat experience.

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