WWII Pilot Combat Report - MORRIS WILLIAMS

MORRIS WILLIAMS

361st Fighter Group 05/23/1944

COMBAT REPORT A. COMBAT B. 23 MAY 1944 F.O. 348 8FC C. 376TH FIGHTER SQUADRON D. 0930-0945 E. 30 MILES EAST OF NANCY F. 10/10 UNDERCAST G. ME 109'S H. NONE I.

I WAS BLACK 3. WE HAD 3 P-51'S ESCORTING 3 BOXES OF 30 B-24'S EACH. WHEN APPROACHING THIONVILLE FROM THE SOUTH, I SAW 4 ME 109'S HEADING FOR THE THIRD BOX IN A HEAD-ON APPROACH. I CALLED BLACK LEADER TO FOLLOW ME AND FOLLOWED THE FIRST 2 FROM 22,000 TO 200 FEET, CLOSING RAPIDLY. DURING THE DIVE, I GOT ONE SHORT BURST AT ZERO DEFLECTION 200 YARDS, BUT GOT NO HITS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE ATTITUDE OF MY SHIP WHILE INDICATING 550 MPH. I GOT ON THE TAIL OF ONE AND BLACK LEADER ON THE OTHER. I NEVER SAW THE OTHER 2 E/A AGAIN (THEY HAD BEEN DISPERSED BY BLACK 2). WE WENT INTO A MAD SWIRLING DOG FIGHT ON THE DECK. THE ENEMY PILOTS WERE CAPABLE AND COURAGEOUS. THEY CIRCLED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SO THAT EACH COULD MAKE A HEAD-ON PASS AT THE ONE OF US WHICH WAS ON THE TAIL OF THE OTHER. AFTER SEVERAL OF THESE CIRCLES, I HAD TO BREAK AWAY BECAUSE ALL MY GUNS JAMMED. THE E/A LOOKED LIKE ME 109G'S AND HAD FIVE GUNS, BUT WE OUTDOVE, OUTTURNED AND OUTRAN THEM. NO CLAIMS.

J. 6 8 6 RDS EXPENDED A.C. NO. E9-G 42-106651 MORRIS C. WILLIAMS , 1ST LT., AIR CORPS.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by MORRIS WILLIAMS of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of MORRIS WILLIAMS's combat experience.

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