Vernon Richards
361st Fighter Group 06/25/1944
B. 25 - 6 -44
C. 374th Fighter Squadron
D. 0 704 - 0715
E. Vicinity 10 miles S. of Caen E of Seine River
F. Light haze 6,000 ft – air to air visibility excellent, air to ground, fair
G. FW 190, ME 109
H. 1 FW 190 destroyed, 1 ME 109 destroyed
I. I was flying Noggin White three in area 10 miles S of Caen. E/A were called in on the deck below us and we dropped tanks and dived from 22,000 ft. Noggin Leader spotted 2 FW 190's. One broke left which Noggin Leader took, and I took the one that broke right. The E/A I took made very little evasive action, and I closed very slow ly. I started firing at about 600 yds closing to 200 yds and observed hits on his right wing root. The E/A pulled up and jettisoned his canopy and bailed out. I pulled up to watch his chute open and as I did a ME 109 passed within 50 yds underneath of me. I rolled over on him and he went into a tight Luffberry . I fired one short burst with the target completely blacked out, then I dropped my nose to see the 109 and he rolled over on his back and bailed out. I took pictures of his plane when it hit the ground. I claim one FW 190 and one ME 109 destroyed. J. 645 rounds of ammunition expended.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Vernon Richards of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Vernon Richards's combat experience.
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