WWII Pilot Combat Report - Pierce McKennon

Pierce McKennon

4th Fighter Group 02/25/1944

Headquarters Fourth Fighter Group A.P.O 637 U.S. Army Pilot's Personal Combat Report VIII Fighter Command F.O. #251

Combat 25 February 1944 335 th Fighter Squadron 12 45 hours South of Luxemburg Clear FW-190 One FW-190 destroyed I was leading Greenbelt Blue section. We were approaching a box of bombers when 2 FW-190's came through. As they came through I got on one's tail and my No. 4 went a fter the other one. I was closing in when he went into a steep diving turn to starboard. I could not get enough deflection by keeping him in sight so I pulled my nose in front of him and gave a short squirt slipping to the right immediately after I fired. I saw strikes on his starboard wing tip. I then got in a squirt (about 20 º deflection shot) and clabbered him good, right behind the cockpit. My No. 2 ( Greenbelt Blue 2) shot at the same time on this squirt, his shot being about 60º deflection shot. I am pretty sure it was my strikes he saw The last time I saw him he had rolled on his back and was going straight down. It was a few seconds later that I saw an explosion on the ground and black smoke coming up. We formed up and the rest of the trip was peaceful.

A/C#: P-45C 5RE 41-6582 Ammunition Used: 440 rounds .50 Cal. A.P.I. & T Pierce W. McKennon 1 st Lt., Air Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Pierce McKennon of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Pierce McKennon's combat experience.

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