WWII Pilot Combat Report - WALTER TONKIN

WALTER TONKIN

78th Fighter Group 02/24/1944

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 83RD FIGHTER SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT REFER ENCE F . C. F.O. NO . 250

a . Combat . b . 24 February , 1944 . c . 83rd Fighter Squadron , 78 th Fighter Group . d . 1 2 30 hours. e . Furstenau . f . 5/10 low cloud, excellent visibility . g . FW-190 . h . 1 FW-190 destroyed . i . I was flying Cleveland Blue 3 position in escort of bombers on penetration at 23,000 feet when I observed what I thought were gun flashes from a low box of Forts on our left. I reported this to my leader and started out in that direction. I spotted a FW-190 slightly low and gave chase with my wing man following. I managed to get in a few bursts at 1 to 1 ½ rings deflection at about 500 yards but as the e/a was taking violent evasive action I decided to wait until I had closed in for a certain kill. At 50 feet from the deck, I closed to 300 yards, line astern, and gave him a long burst with strikes, flashes and smoke following. To avoid going into the deck, I skidded and climbed out to one side. The 190 had hit the ground and was afire. I tried to get a camera shot of this but was interrupted by a Me-109. I broke and observed that a flight of P-47's were chasing him. We chased him around a church steeple where my wing man got in position to fire and then I saw the e/a hit the hedges on the edge of the street and burst into flame.

25 February, 1944 . WALTER TONKIN , 1st Lt. , Air Corps , 83rd Fighter Squadron. Supporting Statement of Claim: I was flying Cleveland Blue four. I followed Lt. Tonkin down under a box of bombers to chase a FW-190. He fired a long burst at the e/a and I saw it go in and burst into flame. 25 February, 1944 RANDAL B. HATHWAY, 2 nd Lt., Air Corps, 83 rd Fighter Squadron.

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

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