WWII Pilot Combat Report - WALTER GRESHAM

WALTER GRESHAM

355th Fighter Group 03/02/1944

358 th FIGHTER SQUADRON 355 th FIGHTER GROUP APO 637 F.O. #257 94 5 Rounds Fired 563 AP 374 I NC 8 Tracer March 3 , 1944 PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT

A . Combat B . March 2 , 194 4 C . 3 5 8 t h F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . 1420 H ou rs E . S.E. of Charleroi F . 3/10th s Cum. G . FW 190 H . 1 FW 190 destroyed I . I was leading Green Flight flying at 25,000' S.E. of Charleroi. We saw two e/a diving N.E. about 18,000'. Our Squadron leader dispatched us with Blue Flight to cover and we started a bounce from out of the sun at 1420 hours. The 2 e/a split, one going to the right and the other to the left. I told Green #3 and #4 to take the second e/a while I took the leader who was in a left turn. I gave him a short burst at 400-500 yards and closed to 300 and opened fire. Hits were seen in and around his cockpit and on both wings. I saw an explosion on the right wing root and about this time almost half of his left wing disintegrated and broke off completely. The e/a, identified as a FW 190, snapped and did a half cartwheel and then went into a violent spin. The combat took place between 15,000' and 12,000' and at the time of the attack I was indicating 500 mph and not closing too fast. I closed to about 200 yards. In view of the effective hits, the explosion, the disintegration of his left wing, his violent spinning and the supporting statements of my wing man, Lt. Martyn, and those of Capt. Wright, Lt. Dissette and Lt. Har rington, I claim 1 FW 190 destroyed. All through the bounce my Green Flight was given excellent cover by Blue Flight. My wing man, Lt. Martyn, stuck with me through the entire attack and gave me splendid cover. The second element of Green Flight rejoined immediately following the attack.

WALTER V. GRESHAM , JR 1st Lt , AC

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

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