WWII Pilot Combat Report - JOHN BENTLEY

JOHN BENTLEY

361st Fighter Group 03/06/1944

COMBAT REPORT A. COMBAT B. 6 MARCH 1944 F.O. 262 8 FC C. 376TH FIGHTER SQUADRON D. 1500 E. VICINITY OF LINGEN F. CLEAR ABOVE 6-10/10 LOW CLOUD G. FW 190 H. 1 FW 190 DESTROYED

I. WE WERE ON WITHDRAWAL ESCORT NEAR NEUENHAUS. I WAS JUST REGAINING ALTITUDE FROM A PASS THAT I AND MY WINGMAN HAD JUST MADE ON 2 FW 190'S, WHICH HAD EVADED BY GOING THROUGH THE CLOUDS. AT ABOUT 1500 I ANSWERED A SUMMONS FROM THE SQUADRON ESCORTING THE LAST BOX OF B-17'S. I LOST MY WINGMAN ON THAT PASS SO PROCEEDED ALONE TO THE LAST BOX OF BOMBERS. I APPROACHED AND SAW 1 FW 190 THAT HAD JUST COME THROUGH THE BOMBER FORMATION AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A PASS ON A B-24 WHICH WAS GOING DOWN AND HEADING INLAND. I CLOSED TO ABOUT 300 YARDS, THE E/A CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THE B-24 AND MADE A SHALLOW TURN TO THE LEFT AT WHICH TIME I GAVE HIM A SHORT BURST. I SAW HITS ON THE CANOPY AND WING ROOTS AND THE E/A WENT OUT OF CONTROL. HE TURNED SHARPLY TO PORT AND HEADED DOWN. I THROTTLED BACK AND CONTINUED TO GIVE HIM SHORT BURSTS, CLEARING MY TAIL AS I HAD NO COVER. I NOTICED MORE HITS ON CANOPY AND WING ROOTS. HE BEGAN TO THROW OIL OR SMOKE THEN HIS RUDDER FLEW OFF. I WATCHED HIM SPIN DOWN THROUGH THE CLOUDS. I PRESUMED THIS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE VICINITY OF LINGEN AT ABOUT 12,000 FEET DOWN TO 7,000 FEET. I FOLLOWED BOMBERS OUT AND ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF IJMUIDEN OVER CHANNEL, I PICKED UP 1 B-24 WITH 2 PORT ENGINES FEATHERED AND LOSING ALTITUDE. I CONTACTED HIM ON CHANNEL C AND HE REQUESTED THAT I OBTAIN A FIX ON B CHANNEL FOR HIM AS HIS RADIO WAS OUT. I CALLED ON BOTH B AND D CHANNELS THEN WATCHED, CIRCLING, AS THE BOMBER WENT IN THE CHANNEL. I SAW A DINGY AFLOAT WITH SOME MEN IN IT. I CIRCLED AS LONG AS MY REMAINING GAS PERMITTED THEN HEADED FOR ENGLAND. I MET A LAUNCH SHORTLY AND CONTACTED IT BY RADIO AND PUT IT ON THE CORRECT COURSE. I CLAIM ONE FW 190 DESTROYED.

J. 444 RDS. JOHN M. BENTLEY 1ST LT., AIR CORPS.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JOHN BENTLEY of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JOHN BENTLEY's combat experience.

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