WWII Pilot Combat Report - William Schwenke

William Schwenke

352nd Fighter Group 01/30/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT L T WILLIAM D. SCHWENKE, JR A .

Combat B . 30 January 1944 C . 328th F i gh t e r Sq uadron D . Approximately 1 3 00 E . Area of Ruhlertwist F . 10 /10 at 4000 G . Me 109 H . 1 Me 109 D ESTROYED I . I was flying in Turndown Yellow 3 position. Just after making R/V with the Bombers at 25000 ft at approximately 1300 we found them under attack by E/a. Col Clark, Turndown Yellow Leader made a diving turn to the left attacking an Me 109 making a climbing turn to the right. I attacked another Me 109 making a climbing turn to the left at which time my Supercharger went out. I fired two deflection shots, missing both times; then got in position and fired from dead astern on the E/a making many hits. The E/a was smoking and flaming and I saw many pieces flying off. I then went past him in a climbing turn to the right and the Me 109 flopped over on his back; the last I saw of him he was going straight down through the clouds at 4000 ft out of control. As my Supercharger was out I returned to Home Station alone. I c laim 1 Me 109 D ESTROYED .

J . Ser No of A/ c : 4 2 - 8 424 A/ c Markings : PE- S Amm unition Expended: 1 2 1 3 rds /s/ William D. Schwenke, Jr WILLIAM D. SCHWENKE, JR, O793543, 1s t L ieu t , A ir C orps, 328th Fighter Sq uadron . /s/ Otto A. Ziebell OTTO A. ZIEBELL Cap t, A ir C orps, S-2 Officer. A TRUE COPY : GERALD F. COSTELLO , Capt ain , A ir C orps , Ass't A-2 , 67 FW . (D- 3 )

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

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