William Smith

20th Fighter Group 08/09/1944


ENCOUNTER REPORT

CAPT. WILLIAM W. SMITH

 

a. Combat

b.  9 August 1944

c.  79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group

d.  1045

e.  S.W. Ulm

f.  3/10 overcast.  Heavy haze and scattered clouds up to cloud base at 22,000 feet.

g.  FW 190

h.  2 FW 190’s Destroyed

1 FW 190 Damaged

i.   Our bombers had aborted so we were sweeping the area for E/A.  I was leading Red Section with the squadron at 18,000 feet.  I saw 40 plus 190’s flying 180o to us 4 miles away and about 3,000 feet below.  E/A were flying 4 ship flights, line astern, in good formation.  I made a left turn out of the sun down to their level which put us right on their tails.  They dropped tanks and gave it the gun in a gentle dive.  At 12,000 feet I landed on the tail of a 190 at 300 yards.  E/S would chop throttles and kick rudder causing me to overrun him before getting strikes.  My wingman called that he had the E/A dead in front of him so I peeled off to the right and got 1 short burst which scored strikes on his right wing.

I got on tail of another and fired 1 4 second burst, dead astern, at 400 yards.  Saw strikes on canopy and both wings.  His canopy flew off.  He peeled off to the right and crash landed.  The pilot left plane and ran for a woods.  In looking back I saw 2 more 190’s behind and below me.

I made a steep climbing right turn and came in on the tail of another at 6,000 feet.  I gave him two 2 second bursts – 10o deflection – 200 yards, getting strikes on wing roots and fuselage.  His right wheel started to drop.  I pulled up about 50 feet above to get an angle on his canopy and gave him a 4 second burst from 75 yards overhead.  Saw fire and smoke from cockpit.  His canopy flew off, he snapped over and crashed into a woods below.  I turned left and climbed out of area.

I claim 2 FW 190’s Destroyed and 1 Fw 190 Damaged.

j.   Ser. No. of A/C:    44-13791

A/C Markings:    MC-S

Ammunition Expended:    397 rds.  50 cal.

 

WILLIAM W. SMITH

Capt., Air Corps

 

 

CONFIRMATION OF CLAIM

 

In above combat I was teaming with Red Leader.  I saw Capt. Smith shoot the second mentioned 190 which crashed into a woods from about 6,000 feet.  My belief is that the pilot was killed by Red Leader’s fire.

 

RUSSELL W. BEBOUT

1st Lt., Air Corps

 

F. EDWARD LARKIN

Captain, Air Corps

Intelligence Officer

 

 


Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by William Smith of the 20th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of William Smith's combat experience.


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