WWII Pilot Combat Report - Mark Boyle

Mark Boyle

56th Fighter Group 04/13/1944

Headquarters Sixty Second Fighter Squadron AAF Station F-150, APO 637 U.S. Army Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. No. 298

Combat 13 April, 1944 62 nd Fighter Squadron Approx. 1 545 hours Vicinity Ludwigshafen Cumulus clouds at 3,000' to 15,000' with breaks. Visibility good. Me 109 One Me 109 claimed destroyed. "I was flying Woodfire Red Three. As we rendezvoused with the bombers, just West of Lud wigshafen, we saw 4 Me 109's making an attack on the "big friends". Red Leader and I were the only two left in Red Flight and we attacked one of the Me 109's. Red Leader was firing at the e/a when the Jerry cut his throttle causing Red Leader to overshoot. I then pulled in behind the e /a which was smoking but seemed to have complete control of his a/c. I closed from about 350 yds to 50 yds firing a long burst. I observed many concentrated hits on the fuselage and wing roots. As I closed to 50 yds, at 5,000', I hit his prop wash and was unable to get further hits. Just as I finished firing, he burst into flames and fell o ff into a spin to the right. I last observed him spinning into the clouds at 4/5,000' , burning furiously. I claim one Me 109 Destroyed."

MARK K BOYLE, 1 st Lt., Air Corps. ARMAMENT REPORT Lt. Mark K. Boyle 42- 75444 1, 262 rounds API//T

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

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