WWII Pilot Combat Report - John Bryant

John Bryant

56th Fighter Group 11/26/1943

Headquarters Sixty Second Fighter Squadron AAF Station # 365 , APO 637 U.S. Army Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. No. 191

Combat 26 Nov, 1943 62 nd Fighter Squadron 1215 hours Vicinity Papenburg Weather good, 3/10 cloud, visibility good, contrails persistent Me 1 10 One Me 1 10 claimed destroyed. "I was flying Woodfire Yellow Three when we made rendezvous with the bombers in the vicinity of Papenburg at approximately 1215 hours. We approached from the south and made a left turn to provide protection to the rear box of bombers. As we did we saw 30/35 twin-engine and 10 single-engine e n emy planes flying formation with the bombers and to their rear preparing to make an attack. I bounced a two-engine plane, which proved to be an Me110, from dead astern and flew along the condensation trail he was throwing out. At approximately 550 yards, I opened fire and immediately I observed flashes all over the enemy plane on the fuselage, wings, nacelles, and tail . Closing to 200 y ards , I was forced to break off the attack because pieces of the Jerry's plane were flying off and some of them almost hit me. Both of his engines were on fire and part of the tail was shot away. He went into an erratic spin, apparently out of control. I claim one Me 1 10 Destroyed."

JOHN P BRYANT 1 st Lt., Air Corps. ARMAMENT REPORT Lt. John P. Bryant 42- 6234 489 rounds API//T

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

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