WWII Pilot Combat Report - Joseph Egan

Joseph Egan

56th Fighter Group 02/21/1944

Headquarters Sixty Third Fighter Squadron AAF Station 365 , APO 637 U.S. Army Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. No. 2 46 Combat 21 February 1944

6 3 r d Fighter Squadron , 56 th Fighter Group Approx. 1 5 30 hours East Coast of Zuider Zee, near Elburg Clear Me 109 One Me 109 destroyed. "I was leading Northgrove B lue Flight (Lts. Egan, Casteel, Hall, Everett). We were escorting the last box of bomber s on withdrawal. I saw four Me 109s and one Fw 190 fly head-on through the box of bombers and head for a straggler behind and below the main formation. They came in line astern . The Fortress tail gunner shot down the leading e/a. The second one rolled over and dove through the overcast. The number three man was being fired on by Lt. Funcheon of the 61 st Squadron. This e/a broke to the left and I started down. As I was about to fire L t. Funcheon appeared between me and the Me 109. I observed many strikes on the e/a as Lt. Funcheon fired. When he broke off his attack, I closed in and fired, observing many strikes and finally he burst into flames. I saw him hit the ground on the East coast of the Zuider Zee near Elburg. This action took place at 8,000 feet. As I started to climb, I saw two Me 109's hit in th e Z uider Zee just off Elburg, but could not determine who had shot them down." I claim one Me 109 Destroyed." JOSEPH L. EGAN JR., 1 st Lt., Air Corps.

ARMAMENT REPORT 1 st Lt. Joseph L. Egan Jr. 42- 75 855 938 rounds AP and I SUPPORTING STATEMENT I was flying No. 2 on Lt. Egan's wing and followed him on a bounce on some Me 109s who were attacking a B-17 at 10,000 feet. Our No. 3 and 4 men stayed up to cover us as there were contrails higher. Lt. Egan was coming into position when Lt. Funcheon of the 61 st Squadron got there ahead of us and scored many hits with some nice deflection shooting. The Me 109 half -rolled and Lt. Egan got in many more hits from overhead deflection and I saw it going down o n its back with long flames shooting out. BARNEY P. CASTEEL, 2 nd Lt., Air Corps

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

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