Praeger Neyland

56th Fighter Group 05/22/1944

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY FIRST FIGHTER SQUADRON AAF STATION F- 1 5 0 , APO 637 U. S. ARMY Encounter Report VIII F ighter C ommand F.O. N o . 346

2nd Lt. Praeger Neyland Whippet Yellow 3 a . Combat (air) b . 2 2 M ay, 1944 c . 6 1st Fighter Squadron , 56th Fighter Group d . 1215 hours e . Hoperhofen f . 8 /10 at 5,000 g . FW-190 h . FW-190 D estroyed i . I was flying Whippet Yellow 3. We had branched off on our leg of the fan and were near Hoperhofen at about 21,000 ft. when Yellow flight was told to go down a strafe a train. We went down and were clocking about 450 when we went by the train. I missed it because he went into some woods. Y e llow leader hit it. We zoomed up to 3,000 and circled the field to the left as they threw some light flak at us. About 2 or 3 miles to the south we saw 30 FW-190's at our same level with P-47's diving on them. We shoved the mercury to it and joined the fight. A P-47 overshot a 190 and broke off his attack. I had the water on and closed behind this Jerry and shot with large deflection and saw a hit or two on his left wing. I mushed past him, went up a little, sliced in on him again and started firing again at about 350 yds and breaking off when at about 60 yds. My nose was blacking him out part of the time, but when I could see him, I saw explosions in the cockpit, and the engine was flaming. Pieces started coming off and he rolled over and started down in a negative angle dive from about 1,500 ft., on fire. I climbed up above the fight and headed home as I was out of ammunition. I could see at least 8 separate fires on the ground where planes had hit. I claim one FW-190 destroye d . j. 1 3 63 rds .50 cal A.P. & I.

PRAEGER NEYLAND , 2nd Lt. , Air Corps . SUPPORTING STATEMENT : I was flying number 4 in Whippet Yellow flight on May 22, 1944. When Lt. Neyland, who was my element leader, fired upon a FW-190. I saw pieces fly off the e/a and hits along the fuselage and in the cockpit. This occurred at an altitude of about 1,500 ft. and when I last saw the e/ a it was on its back and headed for the ground at a very steep angle. I believe it was impossible for the e/a to recover because of the altitude. I saw numerous fires on the ground, and one a/c fell in a ball of flame. CLE O N C. THOMTON, 2nd Lt., Air Corps. For confirmation see Encounter Report of 2nd Lt. J. J. Clark.

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

Praeger Neyland

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