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WILLIAM JULIAN

78th Fighter Group 12/31/1943

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 83rd FIGHTER SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT REFERENCE U.S.F.O. NO. 211
Combat. 31 December 1943. 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78A Group. 1030 hours. 20 miles N.E. of Lorient. 8/10 low cloud, 2/10 high cloud, horizontal visibility good. FW-190. 1 FW-190 destroyed. I was leading Red flight in A Group, on a bomber escort mission to Bordeaux. The group was on its course home but still giving support to incoming bombers, when I saw a single FW-190 to the left of the bombers and slightly lower. I started a steep glide from about 26,000 feet, and positioned myself directly above him. I went into a spiral dive and got astern of him at approximately ten to twelve thousand feet. He went into about a 30 degree dive straight ahead. I was closing fairly fast and opened fire at about 600 yards. I closed to about 200 yards, firing most of the way and observing a few hits. The 190 then did a half-roll and took evasive action, all of which I followed through, firing in fairly long, intermittent bursts. During this firing, I hit the E/A a second time in the rear part of the fuselage while we were both, I believe, flying upside down. I left him when we were both in a vertical dive, headed for the clouds. I pulled out with difficulty just above the clouds at 5,00 feet; but the 190 continued on down. As I zoomed up, I looked back and saw through a hole in the clouds, an explosion and a great ball of fire on the ground, immediately underneath the combat area. I called this to the attention of my wing man, for I felt sure that the 190 hadn't pulled out of the dive.

1 January, 1944. WILLIAM H. JULIAN 1st Lt,. Air Corps, 83rd Fighter Squadron. Supporting Statement of Claim: I was Lockyear 4 in Lt. Julian's flight. Lt. Julian went down on a bounce and we followed. I was separated from Lt. Julian, but after the bounce, while I was orbiting at about 14,000 feet, I noticed a large, orange flash of flame below the cloud. I could not be sure whether it was from the ground. A few seconds later, Lt. Julian called asking if anyone had seen the explosion. 1 January, 1944 WALTER TONKIN 1sr Lt., Air Corps, 83rd Fighter Squadron

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

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