56th Fighter Group 11/18/1944
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON
AAF STATION # 150 APO 558
U.S. ARMY
Personal Combat Report
VIII Air Force F.O. No. 1317A
a. Combat
b. 18 November, 1944
c. 62nd Fighter Squadron
d. Approx. 12:45 Hours
e. Vicinity Hanau
f. 9/10 Cloud at 14,000’- Clear below overcast
g. ME 109
h. One Me. 109 claimed destroyed
I. “ I was flying Platform Blue three on a strafing mission in the Hanau area. About 12:35 hours Whippet Squadron reported being bounced. We headed North toward the attack climbing to 10,000’. A FW 190 attacked Platform Blue two , who broke right , Blue leader, Capt. Wilkerson, turned onto the 190 that was making a 360o turn, after which he rolled out and flew straight for 30 seconds then turned left sharply. At this time Blue Leader shot him down. The E/A went into a vertical dive and crashed into the woods.
At this time a Me 109 was flying 90o to my course to my right and about 2,000’ below. I went down in a steep diving turn onto his tail. We continued to turn in a right Lufberry and as I began closing to open fire at about 300 Yds. when a P-47 came down toward me in a vertical dive and passed off to my left. I tightened my turn to pass behind this 47 and at the same time bettering my position on the e/a/. The 109 pushed his nose down and tightened his turn also. At this point he snapped and an elevator came off and he went down in a vertical dive and crashed into a little hill. I was too occupied to think of switching on my camera and take pictures.
I claim one Me. 109 destroyed.”
NORMAN D. GOULD
2nd Lt., Air Corps
ARMAMENT REPORT
Lt. Norman D. Gould 44-19767 No rounds fired
Reg. No.
56D-215G
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Norman Gould of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Norman Gould's combat experience.
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