WWII Pilot Combat Report - RANDAL HATHWAY

RANDAL HATHWAY

78th Fighter Group 02/24/1944

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 83RD FIGHTER SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT REFERENCE F.C.F.0. NO. 250

A. Combat

b. 24 February, 1944.

c. 83 rd Fighter Squadron, 78 th Fighter Group.

d. 1230.

e. Furstenau.

f. 5/10 low cloud in patches, excellent visibility.

g. Me 109.

h. Me 109 destroyed.

i. I was flying Cleveland Blue four on a bomber escort mission. I followed my element leader, Lt Tonkin, down under a box of bombers to chase a FW 190. I fired a short burst at long range at this e/a; but Lt Tonkin closed in and destroyed it. We were at approximately 500 feet when I saw a Me 109 being followed by three P-47's. I gave chase to this e/a. At an altitude of about 50 feet, I fired a burst of about 30 rounds at a range of 350 yards with an IAS of 300 MPH, using 10 – 15 degrees deflection. I saw heavy strikes on the wing roots and fuselage. It dived into the ground and burst into flame. Lt. Tonkin and I climbed up to 17,000 feet and returned to base.

25 February, 1944, RANDAL B. HATHWAY, 2 nd Lt., Air Corp, 83 rd Fighter Squadron. Supporting Statement of claim: I had just finished combat with a FW 190 when I noticed a Me109 on my tail. Lt Hathway and I joined the chase and pursued him around a church steeple where my wing man got into position to fire and as a result the e/a hit the hedge in the edge of the street and burst into flame. 25 February, 1944, WALTER TONKIN, 1 st Lt., Air Corps, 83 rd Fighter Squadron

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by RANDAL HATHWAY of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of RANDAL HATHWAY's combat experience.

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