W. WILKINSON

78th Fighter Group 05/19/1944

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A. Type of Action Combat B. Date 19 May 1944 C. Unit 82nd Fighter Squadron D. Time of Attack 1235 hours E. Place of Attack Dummer Lake Area F. Weather 7/10 middle cloud G. Type of Target Fw-190 H. Enemy Casualties 1 Fw-190 destroyed and possibly (pending assessment) one or more a/c damaged. I. Account of Combat: Surtax Squadron of which I was White leader was furnishing close support to the third task force which was flying boxes abreast. At approx 1235 hrs., the lead box was attacked from head-on by 30 plus e/a. All of them were, so far as was observed, identified as Fw-190's. The same is true of the second wave of the attack which was directed by a like number of a/c coming from the same direction and directed against the same box of bombers. In an effort to break up the first of these two attacks, I manuevered White flight into position behind the first attackers and consequently in front of the second gaggle of e/a's. As a result, after causing the first group to break up, we were forced to turn into the second wave of e/a's which began firing on us before we could press home our attack. This manuever, coupled with pressure from P-47's above, caused the second group of e/a's to break up as well. I then lead what remained of White flight (#3 and myself --#2 had aborted and #4 was hit in the above engagement) into position on the lead box of bombers on the south side. From this position we observed another enemy gaggle getting into position to attack, again from head -on. These we cut off on their approach by attacking them head-on. On being attacked, they broke into us and we repeated the attack. At this point, my number three lost me so I turned back into the e/a's, this time behind them. From this position, I singled out an e/a firing three or four bursts at approx. 200 yards (30 degrees deflection) and observed numerous hits. He then split-essed, diving straight down. I followed but he bailed out before I could close on him again. Failing to find any further e/a's I returned to base. All three groups of e/a's were flying in "pack" formation (i.e. -depth as well as breadth) and seemed eager to press home their attacks on the bombers. The first two waves attacked approx. 1235 hrs. in the area west of Dummer Lake. The third attack took place west of Steinhuder Lake at approx. 1300 hrs. In this case, the formation was mixed Me-109's and Fw-190's. All engagements took place at 20-21,000 ft. I received several 20mm strikes in my tail surfaces during the first engagement with the lead gaggle of e/a. I claim one Fw-190 destroyed and possibly (pending assessment) one or more a/c damaged by the head-on attacks. J. W. WILKINSON Captain, Air Corps.

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Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by W. WILKINSON of the 78th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of W. WILKINSON's combat experience.

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  78th Fighter Group