Kyle Riddle

479th Fighter Group 12/05/1944


435TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

479TH FIGHTER GROUP, AAF

APO 558               AAF STATION F-377

ENCOUNTER REPORT

NAME:  KYLE L. RIDDLE, Lt. Col., AC

(a)  Type of action:  Aerial Combat

(b)  Date:  5 December 1944

(c)  435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group

(d)  Time:  1100 hours

(e)  Location:  Northwest of Berlin, Germany

(f)  Weather:  8/10 Two layers cumulus top - 20,000’

(g)  Type of E/A:  FW-190s

(h)  Claims:  One FW-190 destroyed; One FW-190 damaged.

(i)  Narrative:

I was leading A Group with Lakeside Squadron.  We were on a course of about 130 degrees at 30,000’ when a gaggle of 30-40 E/A were sighted headed in the opposite direction about 5,000’ below.  I called the bounce and closed on the rear left E/A.  I opened fire at 200-300 yards observing strikes on engine cowling, right wing, and cockpit.  I was closing rapidly and was overshooting.  I pulled up to lose speed.  By the time I rolled over to make a second attack on this E/A I observed him going straight down and approximately 6,000’ below.  I started after him but soon realized it would be impossible to overtake him so I started a climbing turn back to the fight.  I claim one (1) damage from this encounter.

By the time I had completed about 270 degrees of a turn, I observed a FW-190 headed straight down and started after him but before I could close about half of his right wing snapped off.  Picking up another FW-190 coming down by me, I closed to about 300 yards and opened fire observing strikes on wings, fuselage, and engine.  After firing about 150 rounds I closed to about 100 to 150 yards and opened fire once more.  E/A seemed to suddenly slow in speed, a large piece of cowling came off the underside, the pilot rolled over in a left bank and bailed out.  Due to the sudden loss of speed by the E/A I was unable to get a picture of pilot going out.  I claim one (1) FW-190 destroyed in this encounter.

KYLE L. RIDDLE,

Lt. Col., Air Corps.

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Kyle Riddle of the 479th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Kyle Riddle's combat experience.


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