WWII Pilot Combat Report - James Clark

James Clark

56th Fighter Group 05/22/1944

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY FIRST FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION F-1 5 0 , APO 637 U. S. ARMY Encounter Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. No. 346

2nd Lt. James J. Clark Whippet Yellow Two a . C ombat (air) b . 22 May , 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1 240 e . Hoperhofen A/D f . Broken clouds g . FW-190 h . One FW-190 d estroyed , one FW-190 damaged i . I w as fly ing Whippet Yellow 2 and had gone down with my flight leader to strafe a train. After F /O McMinn strafed the engine, we pulled up and saw about 15 to 20 e/a taking off from a field. We skirted the field and went into the fight. The remainder of our squadron had engaged the e/a in the meantime at an altitude of from 1,000 to 5,000 ft. F/O McMinn shot at a 190 and the pilot bailed out. Later he hit another one which I saw explode as it hit the ground. I saw no chute. I made a pass at a 190 head on and saw a flash at his right wing root. He broke right and I lost him. A 190 got on my leader's tail and hit his left wing. I sliced in on him and gave a very short burst. He turned very tight. I lost him but my flight leader saw him bail out. I saw numerous fires on the ground from destroyed aircraft. I claim o ne FW-190 d estroyed and one FW-190 damaged . I confirm two FW-190's destroyed by F/O McMinn.

j . 376 rds .50 cal A.P. & I. JAMES J. CLARK , 2nd L t ., A ir C orps . For confirmation see Encounter Report of F/O Evan D. McMinn.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by James Clark of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of James Clark's combat experience.

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