Ted Slanker

20th Fighter Group 09/28/1944

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PILOT’S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

2nd Lt. Ted E. Slanker

 

A. Combat.

B.  28 September 1944.

C.  77^th Fighter Squadron, 20^th Fighter Group.

D.  1140 to 1200.

E.  15 miles south of Magdeburg.

F.  6/10 cloud cover at 3000 to 5000 feet.

G.  FW 190

UI TE believed to be a Me 210.

H.  1 FW 190 destroyed.

1 ME 210 destroyed.

1 FW 190 damaged.

I.   

“I was leading Outcry spare flight composed of 3 ships following Outcry blue flight which was climbing to investigate contrails at 28000 feet.  We found them to be P-51s and made a gradual turn to left when two gaggles, totaling 75 ships, were seen in the distance.  Blue flight headed right toward them and I took my flight in at about 2 o’clock to them to head them off.  We identified them as FW 190s and Me 109s and went into a Luftberry with them.  After 3 turns they began to break up and dive down.  I got on the tail of one and followed him to the deck where he evaded me in the clouds.  I circled a few minutes under the clouds and saw FW 190 heading towards me.  He made a turn to the left and I dropped right on his tail.  I opened fire at about 75 yards and got hits all over his fuselage, tail, and wing roots.  He made a diving break to the left.  We were at 1000 feet and he went straight into the ground and blew up.  I then circled back over to take a picture of the wreckage and saw another FW 190 in the distance.  I chased him for a little way and in the clouds.  At this point I found myself on the edge of a grass field.  I could see the fuselage of a plane hidden in a revetment and made a turn to come in at 90^o to it.  At this angle the whole plane was visible, which I believe was a Me 210.  Due to my speed I was able to give it only a moderate, but accurate, burst.  As I flashed past it I saw about five more off to my left.  I started a 270^o turn to my right.  Looking over my right shoulder to judge my turn I saw a large column of smoke and flames coming from the Me 210.  Just as I was rolling out of this turn, the ground gunners opened up on me.  I broke to the left and climbed into the clouds heading home.”

I claim:  1 FW 190 destroyed;

1 Me 210 destroyed;

And 1 FW 190 damaged.

J.  2nd Lt. Ted E. Slanker     44-13803     LC-P     840 rds   50 caliber.

 

TED E. SLANKER,

2nd Lieut., Air Corps.

 

JOSEPH R. GENEST,

1^st Lieut., Air Corps,

Intelligence Officer.

 

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Ted Slanker of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Ted Slanker's combat experience.

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  20th Fighter Group