WWII Pilot Combat Report - Walter Starck

Walter Starck

352th Fighter Group 02/10/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT LT. WALTER E. STARCK A . Combat

B . 10 February 1944 C . 487th Fighter Squadron D . 1 100 hrs approximately E . Near Arnheim , South west of Zeider Zee at 25000'. F . 5 /10 cloud cover a bou t 3 000 ft G . M e 109 F H . 1 M e 109 F DESTROYED I . I was leading Crown Prince Blue Flight at 30000 ft when we sighted a lone E/A attacking a lone P-47. I went down to attack and engaged the E/A at about 25000 ft. The E/A attempted to dogfight but I was able to turn inside of him so he broke down. I followed him down and closed rapidl y. I held my fire until I was about 150 yds from him and then let him have it. He was taking terrific evasive action but as I closed on him I saw hits all around his fuselage and wing roots. The E/A started pouring smoke and clouds of white vapor. He suddenly stopped his evasive action and as I pulled away at 14000 ft, he went down in a steep dive, taking no evasive action whatever. I lost sight of him as I pulled up to rejoin my flight circling above, and we climbed up to 25000 ft and came on home. On the way home we made a pass at another Me 109 which had attacked a P-47 but we lost sight of him and did not fire our guns. On return to base many pieces of canopy glass were found in the cooling fans and oil coolers of my engine. CLAIM: 1 M e 109 D ESTROYED J. Ser No of A/ C : 4 2 - 8684 A/ C M ar k ings : HO-X

Amm o E xp : 1 4 2 1 Inc. /s/ Walter E. Starck WALTER E. STARCK 1st L t . , AC /s/ Darrel H. Ramric DARRELL H. RAMRIC , Cap t . , AC S-2 Officer A TRUE COPY: GERALD F. COSTELLO, Cap t ain , A ir C orps , Asst A -2 , 67FW . (D-3)

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Walter Starck of the 352th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Walter Starck's combat experience.

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