WWII Pilot Combat Report - John Wilson

John Wilson

56th Fighter Group 11/05/1943

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY THIRD FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION # 36 5 , APO # 637 U. S. ARMY Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F. O. No. 1 70 1st Lt. J ohn D. Wilson

a . Combat b . 5 November 1943 c . 6 3rd Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1 341 hours e . Between Rheine and Munster f . Clear; with some haze g . 1 F W 190 h . 1 F W 190 D estroyed i . I was flying Number 2 in Postgate Red flight (Capt. Vogt, Lts. Wilson, Hall and Westfall) on Capt. Vogt's wing when a group of thirty FW 190's came in to our section from 11 o'clock at the same level (27,000 feet). We turned into them and started down when I noticed an FW 190 on my left wing and slightly ahead. I cut throttle and sloshed out away from him to get on his tail when he flick-rolled and went down. At this time I noticed an FW 190 on the tail of a P-47 up and to my left, turning away from us. Capt. Vogt, who had been on an FW's tail and just ready to start firing, saw this also and broke to the left to get on the FW's tail. He found that he could not turn inside of him so I slid over the top of Capt. Vogt, turned inside of him, and from approximately 30 degrees deflection and 300 yards, I opened fire. I saw hits on the engine, canopy and left wing. I closed to 200 yards and at that point he was burning and smoking badly. I then broke off my attack. I claim one F W 190 destroyed.

JOHN D. WILSON , 1st Lt. , Air Corps . 1st Lt. John D. Wilson 7 61 rds 50 cal AP & I A/C No. 42-8673 SUPPORTING STATEMENTS As Postgate Red leader I can confirm the action described in Lt. Wilson's report. Being in back of the FW 190 at the time it was hit by my wing man, Lt. Wilson, I had a chance to observe it for some minutes after the shooting. The plane was on fire and I saw the pilot bale out, but did not see a 'chute open. JOHN W. VOGT, JR., Capt., Air Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by John Wilson of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of John Wilson's combat experience.

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