WWII Pilot Combat Report - Joseph Broadhead

Joseph Broadhead

357th Fighter Group 02/25/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT CAPT . JOSEPH E. BROADHEAD, O- 7 28 5 63 A . C OMBAT

B . 25 FEBRUARY 194 4 C . 36 2ND F IGH T E R SQ UA D RO N, 357 TH F IGH T E R GROUP D . 1 445 B.S.T. E . VICINITY OF REGENSBURG, GERMANY F . C LEAR G . ME 109 H . 1 ME 109 DEST . I . I WAS F L Y ING AT ABOUT 18,000 FT. WHEN I OBSERVED AN E/A OVERTAKE A BOX OF BOMBERS AND PASS THEM ON THE RIGHT SIDE AT 24,000 FT. I BEGAN TO FOLLOW HIM AND FINALLY OVERHAULED HIM. THEN THE ENEMY SHIP, A ME 109, TURNED INTO THE BOX OF BOMBERS. I WAS 100 YARDS BEHIND. HE SAW ME AND MADE A QUICK BANK TO THE LEFT. I BEGAN FIRING 40 DEGREES DEFLECTION FROM 100 YARDS. I CLOSED FAST TO WITHIN 50 YARDS AND OBSERVED STRIKES ON HIS ENGINE AND RIGHT WING. HE REVERSED DIRECTION AND SPLIT- S 'D TO THE RIGHT. HE PULLED OUT OF HIS SPLIT- S AT 15,000 FT., ROLLED TO THE LEFT, DID TWO ROLLS, AND BEGAN A SHALLOW DIVE. I FIRED CONTINUALLY, HITTING HIM THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER. AS SOON AS HE BEGAN HIS DIVE THE PLANE STARTED DISINTEGRATING. COWLING, CANOPY , AND VARIOUS PARTS FLEW OFF. BLACK SMOKE STREAMED FROM THE PLANE. I OVER-SHOT THE ME 109 AND DIDN'T SEE HIM AGAIN. I CLAIM AN ME-109 DESTROYED.

J. 5 4 1 ROUNDS JOSEPH E. BROADHEAD , CAP T AIN , AIR CORPS

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Joseph Broadhead of the 357th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Joseph Broadhead's combat experience.

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