WWII Pilot Combat Report - JOHN CARDER

JOHN CARDER

357th Fighter Group 04/24/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT 1 ST LT. JOHN B. CARDER O-740364 A . C OMBAT B . 24 APRIL 1944 , F.O. 312, VIII FIGHTER COMMAND C . 364TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 357TH FIGHTER GROUP D . 1 3 45 E . 10 MILES SOUTH OF MUNICH F . CAVU G. ME 109 H . ME 109 AND PILOT DESTROYED I .

I WAS GREENHOUSE BLUE LEADER AND CAME UPON A ME 109 THAT WAS IN A CLIMB FOLLOWING AN ATTACK ON P-51'S. MY FLIGHT STARTED CLIMBING AFTER HIM AND THE E/A THEN STARTED A SERIES OF ACROBATICS, PULLING STREAMERS FROM THE WINGS NEARLY ALL THE TIME. THE ME 109 IS NO MATCH FOR THE P-51 AT ANY ALTITUDE OR MANEUVER. THIS ACTION TOOK PLACE FROM 19000 DOWN TO 7000 FEET. DURING THE ENCOUNTER I CLOSED TO 250 YDS., AND FIRED 3 LONG BURSTS CAUSING E/A TO EMIT DENSE SMOKE. THE PILOT BAILED OUT AT 7000 FEET, AND THE PLANE WAS SEEN TO CRASH, BUT NO CHUTE WAS SEEN. I BELIEVE PILOT WAS HIT AS HE JUMPED; I WAS GETTING MANY STRIKES AT THE TIME. I CLAIM ONE ME 109 AND PILOT DESTROYED.

J. AMMUNITION EXPENDED : 339 ROUNDS . JOHN B. CARDER , 1ST LT., AIR CORPS, PILOT. CONFIRMATION I SAW LT. CARDER ENGAGE AND SHOOT DOWN A ME 109 IN THE VICINITY OF MUNICH AT 1345 FOLLOWING A DOGFIGHT. PILOT BAILED OUT OF ME 109 AT 7000 FEET AND NO CHUTE WAS SEEN TO OPEN. E/A CRASHED AND EXPLODED. WILLIAM C. REESE, O-743090, 1ST LT., AIR CORPS, PILOT.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JOHN CARDER of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JOHN CARDER's combat experience.

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