Richard Candelaria

479th Fighter Group 12/05/1944


435TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

479TH FIGHTER GROUP, AAF

APO 558               AAF STATION F-377

ENCOUNTER REPORT

NAME:  Richard G. Candelaria, 2nd Lt., AC

(a)  Aerial Combat

(b)  5 December 1944

(c)  435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group

(d)  1100

(e)  Northwest of Berlin, Germany

(f)  8-10/10, two layers cumulus, top at 20,000.

(g)  FW-190’s

(h)  Two FW-190’s destroyed.

(i)  Narrative:

I was flying yellow four position.  We were heading 130 degrees at 30,000 ft. when an enemy gaggle was sighted about 4,000 ft. below us at eight o’clock going away from us.  The Group leader called a bounce and I followed my leader into a sharp left turn.  We closed on them as they started a gentle climbing turn to the right.  My leader fired on one and got strikes on him.  Two FW-190’s turned toward him and I opened fire on one at about 80 degrees deflection but saw no strikes – the second one straightened and I closed on him and opened fire.  I saw strikes in his cockpit and all over his fuselage.  He went into a slow spiral to the right in flames.  I didn’t see the pilot bail out but a few seconds later the plane exploded.  I pulled up toward my leader and watched his man bail out of the spinning aircraft.  I followed my leader on another pass but the E/A split “S” and went into the clouds.

We pulled up once more and my leader fired once more from very close range – I saw strikes on his fuselage and his canopy flew off.  The E/A then pulled up sharply and fell away to the right.  Two FW-190’s made a pass on us and I turned into them and they rolled over and started barrel rolling straight down.  I followed, firing at them everytime I got them in my sights.  I saw no strikes but the canopy of the last plane came off and flew past me.  A moment later I saw the pilot go out and go past my right wing still in a half sitting position.  The plane went into a flat spin to the left.  The other plane leveled off and caught up with four others.  When they saw me closing in, all five peeled off to the right and dove to the cloud layer.  I followed but lost them in the clouds.

OBSERVATIONS:  Enemy pilots were not aggressive.

I claim two FW-190’s destroyed.

RICHARD G. CANDELARIA

2nd Lt., Air Corps

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Richard Candelaria of the 479th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Richard Candelaria's combat experience.


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