WWII Pilot Combat Report - JOHN ELDER

JOHN ELDER

355th Fighter Group 02/21/1944

HEADQUARTERS 355TH FIGHTER GROUP A . P . O . 637 U.S. ARMY Pilot's P ersonal E ncounter R eport

A . Combat B . February 21 , 1944 C . 3 5 7 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1 3 30 E . Lake Dummer Area F . 10/10s cumulus with tops at 4,000 feet, slight haze at 15,000 feet G . FW-190 H . 1 FW-190 destroyed I . ACCOUNT OF COMBAT: I was flying Blowball leader. We were flying at 29,000 feet directly over the bombers. Yellow flight investigated bogies which turned out to be FW- 190s so I took Red flight to attack. I followed one e/a thru several maneuvers down to 5,000 feet, where he leveled off and into a right turn. I was about 1,000 yards behind him and was afraid he would go into the clouds so I gave full throttle and closed rapidly. I started firing at 600 yards and fired till I had to pull up to avoid a collision. I started observing hits from250 yards on and all the strikes converged on the e/a's fuselage, canopy, and wing roots. I pulled up in a left turn and looked down on the e/a which was on it's back just above the overcast and was disintergrating with pieces flying off in all directions. My wingman and No 4 man in my flight saw the pilot bail out.

JOHN L. ELDER JR , Capt , AC . I was flying Red 2 in Capt Elder's flight. I saw him close to about 250 yards where I observed strikes all over the canopy, wings, and fuselage. Capt Elder pulled up. I fired but observed no hits and saw the pilot jettison his canopy, pieces fly off the plane, and I saw the pilot bail out. HENRY S. BILLE, 1st Lt, AC. I was flying Red 4 in Capt Elder's flight. I saw strikes all over the fuselage of the e/a Capt Elder was attacking. I saw the canopy some off, and I made a right turn and saw the pilot coming down in his parachute. BRYON L. HILL, 2nd Lt, AC

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by JOHN ELDER of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of JOHN ELDER's combat experience.

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