WWII Pilot Combat Report - Jack Sturm

Jack Sturm

355th Fighter Group 04/13/1944

HEADQUARTERS 355TH FIGHTER GROUP A . P . O . 637, U.S. ARMY Pilot's P ersonal E ncounter R eport A .

Combat B . 1 3 April , 194 4 C . 3 5 7 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1 420, 1515 E . Augsburg area, Crailsheim A/D F . 3/10's cumulus, 6-8,000' G . ME-109, ME-323 H . 1 ME-109 destroyed ( Air), 1 ME-323 destroyed( Grnd , shared with Capt Wilson) I . ACCOUNT OF COMBAT: I was flying Blowball Red 4. Our Sq was flying at 20,000' when we observed 8 ME-109's with belly tanks climbing in a spread V. They were below us about 4,000' and at 12 o'clock flying on our course. We made a bounce on them and I singled out the last plane on the left side of the V, opening fire at 250 yards and seeing strikes immediately all over the fuselage. These strikes were immediately followed by a terrific explosion in the fuselage. A sheet of flame came back and enveloped my plane causing it to sputter. The E/A disintegrated in the air, and I turned and reformed with my flight leader. I claim 1 ME-109 destroyed in this engagement. Later at 1515, our squadron made an attack on Crailsheim A/D. We made a pass on the A/D and my flight concentrated on 4 ME-323's which were grouped in the SE corner of the field. I opened fire on the first one in mysights , observing strikes, but the E/A started to burn from the attack of the preceeding members of my flight, so I make no claim on this E/A. I gave the second one in line a short burst and observed strikes on it. As I pulled up I observed both these planes burning, and I claim the second E/A destroyed. I claim 1 ME-109 destroyed in the air and 1 ME-323 destroyed on the ground( Shared with Capt Wilson).

JACK D. STURM , 2nd Lt , A ir C orps . Lt Sturm was flying on my left. We bounced several ME-109's, and I saw the E/A which Lt Sturm attacked explode in a big sheet of flame. The 109 simply disintegrated and there was nothing left. JOSEPH F. KERCH, Capt , Air Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Jack Sturm of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Jack Sturm's combat experience.

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