WWII Pilot Combat Report - Joe Icard

Joe Icard

56th Fighter Group 02/21/1944

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION #365, APO #637 U.S. ARMY Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. No. 2

6 a . Combat b . 2 1 Feb. , 1944 c . 6 2nd Fighter Squadron d . Approx. 15 30 hours e . Vicinity Soesterberg f . Clear g . Fw 19 0 h . One Fw 190 claimed D estroyed . I . " I was flying Blue Two and we were escorting the bombers out. South of the Zuider Zee I saw a group of e/a coming up astern of the bombers and four of them went over the top of us. We went after them, I chose the leader and met him head-on. As I did so, he did a roll and went down and I followed. Suddenly an Fw 190 came up between us, on my level (15,000') and I went after him. I opened fire at 200 yds., from dead astern, and saw a heavy concentration of strikes all over the fuselage of the e/a. The ship then started smoking and burst into flame. As the blaze increased, the a/c rolled off and went down in a spin. I was prevented from following him visually for, just then, I saw another e/a and was forced to pull up. I then rejoined Blue Leader, saw that the e/a was well taken care of and we came home. I claim o ne Fw 190 D estroyed. "

JOE W. ICARD 2 nd Lt., Air Corps . ARMAMENT REPORT Lt. Joe W. Icard 4 2 -7 5040 433 rounds API&T " … . I saw three e/a's shot down and burning near the Zuider Zee. One of the P-47's attacking was later identified as Lt. Icard. I saw the e/a he shot at go down trailing black smoke and out of control. I did not watch the e/a crash. I last saw him at about 3,000' where the e/a was still spinning out of control and burning fiercely… " LEROY A SCHREIBER , Cap t ., Air Corps.

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

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