JESSE GONNAM
353rd Fighter Group 12/30/1943
ENCOUNTER REPORT Combat . 30 December 194 3 . 35 2 nd Fighter Squadron . 1 115-1130 . Charleville. 21,000 to 7,000 feet. C lear above with 10/10 th 's clouds beginning at 7,000 feet. ME 109 . One ME 109 d estroyed , one ME 109 destroyed shared with Lt. Willits, one ME 109 damaged. Narrative: I was leading Wakeford Yellow Flight in high cover on the right side of the lead box of B-17s when I heard a call from Pipefull Red Leader saying he needed help at the 2 nd box of 17s . I turned and dove into a fight on the left side of the 2 nd box of bombers. I saw a ME 109 on the tail of three 47s and I made a stern attack starting to fire at about 300 yards. I saw flashe s from wing tip to tip and strikes on the left side of the fuselage. I fired another burst from astern and saw strikes again on the e/a. I fired a third burst and noticed two guns on the right had stopped firing causing me to swerve to the left with each burst. I saw strikes on the third and again on the fourth burst. I couldn't reason out why the e/a didn't take evasive action or why I didn't knock him down with the number of hits I saw. I then fired again firing a long burst. I again saw strikes and the e/a started slow evasive action. On the sixth burst he rolled and I pushed forward to fire again but overran and rolled with him. He recovered going straight down and I noticed smoke trailing him for the first time. I recovered and the e/a went straight down into the clouds that started about 7,000 feet. From the hits and smoke observed, and apparent uncontrollability of the e/a, I believe I destroyed this ship. I crossed to the left and opened fire on the closest of the two ME 109s at about 300 yards and saw strikes on him. I overran and my #3 man started firing at this ship. Flames and smoke burst from him and he went straight down trailing black and white smoke from the cowling and fuselage. I was then firing at the lead e/a at about 400 yards. I saw strikes and followed him, still firing, into the clouds where I zoomed out and started climbing to go back to the bombers. I was firing 100% incendiaries and I fully believe if I had fired AP I would have destroyed these three e/a. I formed up the flight and came home without any more trouble. I claim the second 109 destroyed, shared with Lt. Willits my #3, and the third 109 damaged by visible hits on wings and tail. J ESSE W. GONNAM , 1 st Lt, AC , 352 nd F Sq.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JESSE GONNAM of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JESSE GONNAM's combat experience.
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