William Chattaway

"Jackpot 2. Amended"

a. Combat.

b. 15 April 1944.

c. 62nd Fighter Squadron.

d. Approximately 1430 hours.

e. Vicinity Altona.

f. Hazy.

g. FW 190's

h. One. FW 190 claimed destroyed, and two FW 190 s claimed damaged.

i. "I was flying Groundhog White Four when we circled Altona and dropped our tanks in preparation to strafe the A/D which had several single engine and many more twin engine a/c parked on and around it. Just then, White Three spotted 9 a/c flying line abreast northward from Hamburg a mile or so. Groundhog Leader started over. They were at about 5000 feet and we were up sun at about 3000 feet above. We had a perfect bounce and Captain Christensen got a straggling Me 109 immediately from behind and below. I saw strikes all over. The 109 and it pulled up, rolled over and dove straight in. The FW 190 s then swung right, except for one that broke left, and Captain Christensen took him. We went after the others with four of us to seven of them. White Three started down to the deck for one and I began to follow till I saw three FW's above me and to the right, turning in to bounce us. I pushed everything forward and broke up into them. I opened fire at 20° from head on and allowed a lot of deflection so the first two flew through the fire. I saw some hits in front of the cockpit of the 1st FW190 and two or three hits on the tail section of the second. The third FW broke off and went to the deck. I looked around below me and saw a P-47 turning to the left in a tight turn, (believed to have been Captain Harrison) on the tail of an Fw 190. Another Fw was on the 47's tail and shooting at him. I had to wait 3/4 of a turn before I could bounce the tail end Fw. I then dove down and pulled my nose through him, putting my sights on the 47's tail. I fired a long burst the whole way through and went right in front of the Fw. I then had to zoom up sharply to avoid the ground as they were about 400 feet. As I pulled up to the left, I observed the Fw 190 flick over and dive into the ground, exploding, and burning. I did not see any hits, as he was under my nose while I was firing, so I'm not certain if he was hit or just pulled in to miss me, flicked over. I then pulled up and rejoined White Three to take Red Two home as he was in trouble. We saw another Fw 190 go under us but we had to stay with Red Two. I claim one Fw 190 destroyed., and two Fw 190's damaged.