CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat.
B. 5 December 1944
C. 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
D. 1345 1045.
E. Few miles northeast of Berlin.
F. 4/10ths to 8/10ths in layers up to 20,000 feet - haze.
G. FW 190.
H. One (1) FW 190 Destroyed.
I. I was leading Hellcat Yellow Section at 26,000 feet as the squadron was
investigating boggies about 25 miles north of Berlin. I headed my flight
toward a gaggle just north and east of Berlin and spotted an FW 190 below (at
about 22,000) and to the left. We dropped tanks and I followed the E/A as
he dove through the haze. At about 12,000 feet he leveled (sic) out
and I gave him a good two second burst - observing numerous strikes on his wing
roots, fuselage and the vicinity of the canopy. The very first strikes
must have killed the pilot for the E/A took no further evasive action.
First it rolled over on its back and stayed in that attitude for almost five
seconds. Then it did a slow, lazy split-S and fell into an uncontrolled
spiral, trailing a stream of white smoke and disappearing into the clouds at
10,000 feet. Because the pilot was obviously killed and the plane was last
seen in an uncontrolled dive, I claim this FW 190 as destroyed.
J. Ammunition Expended - 420 Rounds.
MC CAULEY CLARK,
Captain, Air Corps.
CONFIDENTIAL