John Randolph

20th Fighter Group 08/09/1944


ENCOUNTER REPORT

LT. COL. JOHN P. RANDOLPH

 

A. COMBAT

B.  9 AUGUST, 1944

C.  55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 20TH FIGHTER GROUP

D.  1135 HOURS

E.  SOUTH OF AUGSBURG

F.  HAZY

G.  ME 109

H.  ONE (1) ME 109 DESTROYED

I.   I WAS FLYING WHITE LEADER.  WE WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 FEET WHEN WE SIGHTED A GAGGLE OF E/A AT 3/4,000 FEET ABOVE US AT 9 O’CLOCK.  WE BEGAN A CLIMBING TURN TO GET BEHIND THEM.  2 109’S PEELED OFF AND STARTED DOWN.  I IMMEDIATELY STARTED AFTER THEM.  I OPENED FIRE ON THE 2ND E/A FROM APPROXIMATELY 1,000 YARDS.  I CLOSED FAST AND AT 150 – 200 YARDS OPENED FIRE AGAIN, OBSERVING MANY STRIKES ON WINGS AND FUSELAGE.  PIECES BEGAN TO FLY FROM FUSELAGE AND HE JETTISONED HIS CANOPY.  I BROKE FROM THE ATTACK AT 3/4000 FEET, BANKED AND SAW AN EXPLOSION ON THE GROUND WHERE HE HIT.

I CLAIM ONE ME 109 DESTROYED

J.   SERIAL NO. OF A/C:    44-13541

A/C MARKINGS            :    MC-N

AMMO EXPENDED      :    708 ROUNDS CALIBRE 50

 

JOHN P. RANDOLPH

LT. COL., AIR CORPS

 

CONFIRMATION

 

I WAS FLYING WHITE 2.  WE WERE ESCORTING BOMBERS IN THE MUNICH AREA.  THE BOMBERS HAD JUST MADE A 180o TURN AND WERE HEADED 310o APPROXIMATELY.  40 PLUS ME 109S WERE SPOTTED HIGH AND ABOUT 9 O’CLOCK.  WE CONTINUED ON COURSE, CLIMBING.  WHEN E/A HAD PASSED US WE MADE A 180o TURN TO CLOSE ON THEM.  2 109’S STARTED FOR THE DECK.  WHITE LEADER PEELED OFF AND SELECTED THE WINGMAN OF THE 2.  AT APPROXIMATELY 15000 FEET HE OPENED FIRE FROM ABOUT 1,000 YARDS.  HE OVERTOOK E/A AND WHEN DEAD ASTERN HE OPENED FIRE FROM 150 YARDS.  THIS TIME I SAW NUMEROUS STRIKES ON HIS WINGS AND FUSELAGE.  I THEN SAW THE ENEMY PLANE FULL OUT OF CONTROL.  PIECES WERE FALLING OFF.  IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE ENEMY PILOT WAS KILLED AND THE PLANE DESTROYED.  THE LAST OF THE ENCOUNTER WAS AT 3,000 FEET, WHEN THE 109, OUT OF CONTROL, WAS ALMOST VERTICAL.  THAT WAS THE LAST I SAW.

 

D. D. OXLEY

2ND LT. AIR CORPS

 

CLIFFORD W. LONG

1ST LT. AIR CORPS

INTELLIGENCE OFFICER

 

 

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by John Randolph of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of John Randolph's combat experience.


Return To Stories





Donations

Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum.

We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment.

We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans.

Donate

This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

Contact us if you are contemplating a donation of any kind.

Volunteering

Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation.

We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks.

(1) Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one. (2) Photography and Document Scanning.

Historical Artifacts

We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms and gear of the 8th Air Force in World War II as well as other units and commands. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material.