WWII Pilot Combat Report - WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE

WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE

353rd Fighter Group 01/21/1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT C ombat 21 January , 1944 3 5 1 st Fighter Squadron About 1445 hours Near San Quentin 5/10 cumulus , 6, 000 feet ME 109 One ME 109 destroyed

I. Narrative: I was flying Roughman White 3 position on area patrol in the Amiens-Cambrai area at 17,000 feet. Major Beckham, leading White Flight spotted four bogeys flying generally SW at 2 o'clock, low to our position. We were flying generally east at the time. Our flight turned right, diving slightly and came into position almost astern of the four. The leader, Major Beckham, was approximately 200 yards ahead of me when he identified the four as e/a and opened fire. I glanced momentarily at his target and immediately it caught fire and turned over. I then concentrated on the e/a directly ahead of me, taking a one second burst at about 15 degrees deflection from 400 yards. At first there were no strikes, the e/a flicked to the left and I observed a strike on his left wing. I was then closing, and at about 200 yards I gave another long burst seeing strikes on both wings and fuselage. The e/a was upside down. As I passed over him I observed smoke and flame pouring from wings and fuselage, still on his back and going down in a flat inverted spin. I pulled back up to 17,000 feet and joined a flight of six P-47s. My wingman, Lt. Thornell, observed this e/a to go down smoking also. I claim one ME 109 destroyed. In the encounter the flight was split up except for Major Beckham and his No. 2. However, with good top cover all four joined up and withdrew together.

WILLIAM T. THISTLETHWAITE, 1 st Lt . , A ir Corps.

Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE of the 353rd Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE's combat experience.

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