John Cunnick

55th Fighter Group 04/16/1945


PILOT’S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

A.  Combat.

B.  16 April 1945.

C.  38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.

D.  1600 Hours.

E.  U/I A/D near Landshut and U/I A/D near Ansbach.

F.  CAVU.

G.  3 Me 109’s.

H.  2 Me 109’s destroyed and 1 Me 109 damaged (Ground).

I.  I was flying Hellcat White Three on a bomber escort mission when I contracted fuel trouble necessitating my withdrawal from the target area prior to the Groups’ withdrawal.

After leaving the Group my wingman and I made a bounce on an u/i A/D on the west side of a river in the Landshut area.  I came in from east to west firing a four second burst at an Me 109 (15, see illustration 4) parked on the west side of the field.  This A/C started to smoke and burst into flame I then completed my pattern and made another pass from east to west firing a 3 second burst into another Me 109 (16, see illustration 4) on the southeast corner of the field.  This A/C exploded instantly.

Other fighters gathered from another Group and as the flak became more intense, my wingman and I decided to leave and we continued on a course of 510 degrees to the area around Ansbach where we sighted another A/D.  I made one pass on an Me 109 (17, see illustration 5) parked in an open field south-east of the A/D observing many hits but the plane failed to smoke.  The flak became intense and after my wingman had made a couple of passes we headed for home.

As a result of the above action I therefore claim 2 Me-109’s destroyed and 1 Me 109 damaged.

J.  Ammunition Expended – 540 Rounds.

  JOHN W. CUNNICK, O-832353,

1st Lieut., Air Corps.

 

S T A T E M E N T

On the above mission, I was flying with Lt. Cunnick and saw him fire at 2 Me 109’s which subsequently burst into flames on the A/D near Landshut.

I also saw Lt. Cunnick get numerous hits on an A/C parked on the south side of an u/i A/D near Ansbach.

CLIFFORD C. GOULD, O-756546,

1st Lieut., Air Corps.

 

 

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by John Cunnick of the 55th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of John Cunnick's combat experience.

Combat Reports

John Cunnick's official WW2 combat report of 04/07/1945
John Cunnick's official WW2 combat report of 04/16/1945

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