John Tennant

20th Fighter Group 11/02/1944


ENCOUNTER REPORT

CAPT. JOHN. H. TENNANT

 

A. COMBAT

B.  2 NOVEMBER 1944.

C.  55th FIGHTER SQUADRON  20th FIGHTER GROUP

D.  APPROX. 1310 HOURS.

E.  HALLE/MERSEBURG AREA

F.  9/10 CLOUD COVER

G.  1 - ME 109

2 – FW 190

H.  1 – ME 109 DESTROYED

2 – FW 190 (LONG NOSE) DESTROYED

I.   

I WAS LEADING SAILOR SQUADRON AT 27,000 FEET.  I SAW 40 PLUS ME 109S AND FW 190S.  THEY WERE BELOW US AND TO THE LEFT.  WE MADE AN ATTACK AND PICKED A/C TO FIRE ON.  I ATTACKED AN ME 109 WITH A 70 DEGREE DEFLECTION SHOT.  I GAVE HIM A 1-1/2 SEC. BURST FROM 300 YARDS.  HE EXPLODED.  I CLAIM ONE (1) ME 109 DESTROYED.

A FEW MINUTES AFTER THIS EXPLOSION I ENGAGED A LONG NOSED FW 190 IN A TURNING DOG FIGHT.  I GOT ON HIS TAIL AND OPENED FIRE FROM ABOUT 400 YARDS.  I SAW STRIKES ON THE COCKPIT AND WINGS.  THE A/C STARTED SMOKING AND WENT INTO A SPIN.  IT BURST INTO FLAMES AT ABOUT 12,000 FEET.  IT DOVE INTO THE OVERCAST A MASS OF FLAMES.  I CLAIM ONE (1) LONG NOSED FW 190 DESTROYED.

ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER I GOT INTO A TURNING DOG FIGHT WITH A SECOND LONG NOSED FW 190.  I CAME IN ON HIM FINALLY FROM DEAD ASTERN AND OPENED FIRE FROM 350 YARDS.  I STAYED ON HIS TAIL FIRING SEVERAL SHORT BURSTS.  THE PILOT BAILED OUT AT 7,000 FEET.  THE CHUTE OPENED.  THE PLANE WENT STRAIGHT DOWN.  I CLAIM ONE (1) FW 190 DESTROYED.

J.  SER NO OF A/C:  44-14198

A/C MARKINGS:  KI-W

AMMO EXPENDED:  646 RDS   50 CAL.

 

JOHN H. TENNANT,

CAPTAIN, A.C.

 

CONFIRMATION

I WAS FLYING CAPT. TENNANT’S WING.  WE WERE MAKING A CLIMBING CIRCLE WHEN I SAW A LONE ME 109.  CAPT. TENNANT TOOK A BIG DEFLECTION SHOT AND IMMEDIATELY THE RIGHT WING TANK ON THE E/A EXPLODED, AND THE A/C STARTED DOWN.  ABOUT 1,000 FEET BELOW US THE RIGHT WING FELL OFF.

 

DAVID L. FREEDMAN

2ND LT., A.C.

 

DEAN E. ERLANDSON

CAPTAIN, A.C.

INTELLIGENCE OFFICER

55TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

 

 


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


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