Robert Church
4th Fighter Group 05/29/1944
HEADQUARTERS
FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP
A.P.O. 637 U.S. ARMY
PILOTS PERSONAL COMBAT REPORT
VIII Fighter Command F.O. 353
A. Combat
B. 29 May, 1944
C. 335th Fighter Squadron
D. 1500 hours
E. Ehmarn Belt
F. Clear
G. Me-109E
H. One Me-109E Destroyed
I. I was flying as Caboose Blue leader when Caboose White leader called and said there were five Jerries attacking the lead box of the second combat wing. We immediately turned about at 21,000 feet and dove onto the attackers.
I saw an Me-109 fire at the bombers and then climb up on the other side of the bombers. I opened everything up and climbed after him. As he started to orbit; I imagine to get back in a position to carry out another attack, he saw me coming up on him and started to wrack it in. I wracked it in also but about half way thru his turn, he suddenly reversed his turn and dove straight down. As I was not in position, I did not fire but followed him down. He jettisoned his canopy but I did not see him bail out or see a chute. At about 4000 feet we were both still going straight down at about 450 MPH so I started to pull out gradually. I saw his A/C go straight into the sea about a half mile SW of Nysted.
Crash Confirmed by:
BERNARD L. McGRATTAN,
Captain, Air Corps,
Pilot.
A/C Used: P-51B 15 43-24813
Ammunition used: None
ROBERT C. CHURCH,
1ST Lt., Air Corps,
Pilot.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Robert Church of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Robert Church's combat experience.
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