John Truluck

1st Lt. J ohn H . T ruluck a . Combat b . 2 7 Sept ember 1943 c . 6 3rd Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1 0 30 to 10 45 hours e . Near Borkum Island f . 8 /10 cloud , with some haze g . 1 F W 190 , and 1 Me 1 09 h . 1 F W 190 d estroyed ; 1 Me 10 9 destroy ed i . Because of the early return of Postgate Blue 1 and 2, I continued as leader of Blue flight (Lt. Truluck and Lt. Windmayer). I was flying between Postgate White and Yellow flights. As we approached the bomber s, near Juist or Borkum Islands, I was above their line of flight, at about 28,000 feet. Postgate leader went to the rear of the last box of bombers and started turning to the left. I was zig-zagging over the bombers when I saw a bandit attacking the bombers from about seven o'clock. I reported him, did a couple of 90 degree turns, saw another FW 190 among the bombers and another approaching them from the rear. I called my wing man and started down on the l a tter which was very near to the bombers. Then another FW came out of the clouds from the same direction to make a seven o'clock attack on the Forts. He was nearer to me, so I went down on him. He was diving at about 250/300 M.P.H. I closed to about 300 yards and started firing. I saw hits, with several pieces flying off the FW 190. I continued to close, firing. When I was about 75/100 yards away, the plane exploded. Pieces went off in every direction, with a wheel going over and barely missing my wing. I called my wing man and pulled up from about 18,000 to 24,000 feet. I saw a Me 109 about 1500 to 2,000 feet below, called my wing man, and went down on him. He turned sharply to the right. I opened fire at about 500 yards; fired about 50 rounds (per gun) without hitting him. We were, by this time, in a tight Luffberry. I ceased firing and tightened my turn to the limit, but was in his prop wash and near stalling. I got my lead and fired short bursts a couple of times, observing some hits, but each time either I would stall or hit his prop wash. My excess speed was about gone, but I was gradually getting inside and nearer to him. The 109 then rolled over to go down. I rolled with him and started firing. We were both upside down when he practically disintegrated from several explosions. I was near enough to see the cannon underslung on each wing. He went into a spin, smoke trailing from behind. - 1 - 1st Lt. John

H. Truluck – Personal Combat Report – 27 Sept. 1943. (Cont'd.) I was at about 17,000 feet and climbing up again when I saw a FW 190 (or Me 109) on the tail of my wing man. I yelled to him to break which he did and then I turned into the e/a. There were 4 fighters on the tail of the German. Thinking they were more Germans, I did a tight chandelle and came down to the right rear of the last one. I started to close on him, and then noticed that they were P-47's . I turned to the left, saw the FW 190 break down, trailing smoke, with P-47's following. I claim 1 F W 190 destroyed and 1 Me 10 9 d estroy ed . JOHN

H. TRULUCK , 1st Lt. , Air Corps .