John Godfrey

4th Fighter Group 12/22/1943

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HEADQUARTERS

FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP

A.P.O. 637, U.S. ARMY

 

PILOTS ENGAGEMENT REPORT

VIII Fighter Command F.O. 207

 

• Engagement
• 22 December 1943
• 336 Fighter Squadron
• 1410
• 15 or 20 Miles West of Munster—10,000 to 8,000 Feet
• 10/10 Up To 7,000 Feet.
• Two ME 109’s
• One and One Half Destroyed.

I.      Narrative:

               

               I was flying Purple Two (2) in Shirtblue Squadron at 31,000 feet. Just beyond the target I noticed two (2) ME 109’s at 0900 o’clock down below. I called up my number one (1) and informed him I was going down but as my transmition (sic) was jammed he did not hear me. Meanwhile, I had split S’d down and positioned myself in back of the e/a at about 10,000 feet. As I was closing in another P-47 from Pectin Squadron, gave a short burst and hit the number Two (2) e/a in the wing and fuselage. The P-47 than pulled up leaving me in a position to fire at the e/a. I fired at 200 yards and closing in noticed strikes on the wings, fuselage and cockpit. The e/a smoking rolled over and in doing so I noticed flame coming out of the bottom of the fuselage. I think the pilot was killed as the e/a went straight down and I lost him in the clouds. I then closed in on the number one (1) and started to fire at 200 yards closing to 50 feet. I saw strikes on wings, fuselage and cockpit. Bits flew off the a/c and as I pulled up to starboard to watch him I saw flames and smoke coming from the cockpit. I watched the pilot bale out and the ME 109 went out of control through the clouds. At this time another ME 109 pulled up behind me and as he fired I felt hits on my a/c and saw tracers go by. I looked back and saw a ME 109 (with yellow nose) firing at me. As I was practically in a stall I yanked back on the stick, applied rudder and my a/c toppled over and spun down. I managed to straighten it out and pulled out of the cloud. My height at the time I straightened out was about 50 feet. (The overcast was down to 1,000 feet near the target). I tried to climb back up but my air speed tube in the wing had been hit so I had a difficult time flying instrument. I managed to get above the clouds at about 5,000 feet but due to a couple of ME 109’s who were above me I again went into the clouds and spun down to the deck and managed to get home.

 

               The first one I fired at I share with Lt. Wynn of Pectin Squadron. Instead of being two ME 109’s there must have been a section of four (4) because the two of us destroyed three and there was one left firing at me. I did not see Lt. Wynn’s destroyed blow up as I was watching the a/c I destroyed go down.

 

               I claim one and one-half ME 109’s destroyed.

 

AMMUNITION EXPENDED

1202 Rounds Inc.

 

JOHN T. GODFREY                 

1st Lt., AC,

Pilot.

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by John Godfrey of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of John Godfrey's combat experience.

See More

John Godfrey: Personnel File

Combat Reports

John Godfrey's official WW2 combat report of 12/01/1943

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  4th Fighter Group