WILLIAM TANNER
353rd Fighter Group 01/30/1944
E. Patchy cirrus at 20,000 ft. Strata cumulus at 3-4,000 feet. F.W. 190 One F.W. destroyed
I. I was flying Pipeful White three. Just before we left the bombers my engine started cutting up. My wing man and I could not keep up with Major Beckham so we dropped behind over the Zuider Zee. There was a clear spot and from 20,000 feet I saw two aircraft heading northeast. I waited till I go directly in the sun and split S'd on the number two man's tail. I closed to about 300 yards and opened fire. I saw several strikes on the left wing and wing root. Then the left wing exploded and flames were coming out. The E/A did an attempted half roll and fell like a falling leaf into the clouds where just before he entered the whole left wing broke off. I could not follow the other E/A because my engine had quit, so I ducked in the cloud level and nursed it going again (both were F.W. 190's, and both were carrying belly tanks). I claim one F.W. 190 destroyed
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by WILLIAM TANNER of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of WILLIAM TANNER's combat experience.
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