WWII Pilot Combat Report - WILLIAM MADOLE

WILLIAM MADOLE

78th Fighter Group 07/30/1943

OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 8 3 RD FIGHTER SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT IV AIR DEFENSE WING FIELD ORDER NUMBER 18 REFERENCE U.S. F .O. N UMBER 87

Combat. 30 July, 1943. 83 rd Fighter Squadron 1015. Raesfeld. Ground haze to 15,000; 2/10 scattered cloud at 32,000 feet; visibility good. FW 190 One FW 190 destroyed Narrative: I was flying Trumpcard Yellow 3 in Lt. Bodenhamer's flight, escorting a formation of 180 B-17s out from target. After we had picked up the bombers and saw they were being attacked by FW 190s and ME 109s, I started down to bounce some at about 6 o'clock on the bombers. I was cut out by 4 P 47s who were bouncing the same Huns. I saw two others over to the right and started for them but they half-rolled and went straight down. I pulled up to the left and saw the 4 P 47s also pulling up with a FW 190 on the fourth man's tail. I don't think he had fired yet. I was in a vertical bank and climbing, so I rolled over some more and at a range of 250-300 yards, I gave him a one second burst with about 3 rings deflection (30 o -45 o ) and observed strikes from the nose and along the fuselage. I then pulled up and to the right to bounce again from behind at a better deflection. As I started back down I was about to fire when I saw the pilot of the FW 190 bail out. I had lost my wingman during this time, so I joined the other P 47s and came home.

WILLIAM H. MADOLE 1 st Lt. , Air Corps .

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

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