ROSCOE FUSSELL

355th Fighter Group 04/19/1944

358TH FIGHTER SQUADRON 355TH FIGHTER GROUP APO 637 April 20 , 1944 F.O. #305 PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

A . Combat B . April 1 9 , 194 4 C . 3 5 8 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . App. 1 0 15 hrs. E . S.W. Brunswick F . 6-8 / 10ths C um , 1 - 5 ,000' , visibility air-air and air-ground good . G . FW 190 H . 1 FW 1 9 0 destroyed . I . I was flying Colebrook Red #3 on April 19. We were S.W of Brunswick at 11,000' when I saw and reported a bandit at 10 o'clock. Col Stewart, who was Uncle Leader, dispatched me down and I immediately went to the attack. I closed on the E/A fast and fired a few very short bursts. I saw that I was clo s ing too rapidly so I chopped my gun, slowing down to about 450 or 500 mph. I closed to about 10 yards and firing as I closed. I saw many pieces fly off the E/A. I broke off sharply to the left and saw him a second after he had crashed and exploded. I broke off the attack at about 4,000'. Lt Martyn was my wing man and gave me excellent cover. We climbed up and joined Falcon Leader and came out. There is nothing as valuable as a good wing man and I believe Lt Martyn is one of the best. I claim 1 FW 190 destroyed.

ROSCOE J. FUSSELL , 1st Lt, AC . Supporting S tatement for Lt Fussell's C laim : I was flying Colebrook Red #4 with Col Stewart leading. At 1020, when about 25 miles S.W. of Brunswick, one E/A was reported. Col Stewart ordered an attack and Red #3 , Lt Fussell, made the bounce with me as cover. We followed the E/A in a high-speed dive with Lt Fussell firing and closing swiftly. When he was app. 75 yards astern I saw strikes all over the E/A which immediately fell into a right spin and began to burn. Lt Fussell and I then climbed back to 24,000' and joined Falcon Leader and his wing man. DONALD M MARTYN , 1st Lt, AC. Supporting S tatement for Lt Fussell's Claim: I was Colebrook Green Leader on April 19, 1944. At 1010 S.W of Brunswick, one E/A was reported at 10,000'. Col Stewart dispatched Colebrook Red #3 to destroy the E/A. Lt Fussell dove to the attack with Lt Martyn giving close cover. Lt Fussell gave the E/A a long burst, dead astern, closing to 100 yards. I saw the E/A, a FW 190, crash and explode. This E/A was completely destroyed. LAWRENCE J. DISSETTE, Capt, AC.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by ROSCOE FUSSELL of the 355th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of ROSCOE FUSSELL's combat experience.

ROSCOE FUSSELL

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