Paul Conger
56th Fighter Group 04/15/1944
i. Leading Red flight of Halstead squadron (Ashland Leader) we made landfall at 1315 proceeding to proposed airdrome, dropping to 8,000 feet where my flight orbited. White leader made a strafing attack on Neuminster airdrome, recovering to 8,000 where I joined him again. We then took a vector south towards Hamburg. At 8,000 over Elmshorn (time 1420) I saw a bogie on the deck. Dropping rapidly west to the deck then 18 0 o turn to the east, I came in behind him with my flight of 4 still with me. The bogie was a FW-190 which began to pull up having a speed of 300 m.p.h. I closed averagely. The FW-190 broke left and up orbiting. I broke too into a stall turn finally pulling so much deflection that his plane was not visible. Hits were seen by my number 2 man. Finally I began to be able to turn inside of him, gave another spurt. Hits were then visible on the right wing where a few pieces flew off, then the left side of the cockpit began to burn. The 190 then spurted at my no. 4 man in the Lufberry. My third spurt then finished him as flames from his cowling were now visible. He rolled to level flight dropping rapidly. His left gear dropped and he hit the ground flaming in an explosion of black smoke. I claim one FW-190 d estroyed . j. 9 7 4 rds .50 cal A.P.I.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Paul Conger of the 56th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Paul Conger's combat experience.
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