45-04-09 HdQts Consolidated Report

CONFIDENTIAL

HEADQUARTERS
55TH FIGHTER GROUP
APO 559, U.S. ARMY

Consolidated Encounter Report

Ground Strafing Attack on Munich-Brunnthal Landing Ground and Autobahn
Dispersal Area

Date: 9 April 1945
Eighth Air Force Field Order No. 1929A
Time: 1650
Total Claims: 49-0-22

GROUP LEADER’S NARRATIVE

I was Windsor (Group Leader) leading Hellcat Squadron. Our Group, flying reduced effort of three squadrons, made scheduled R/V and proceeded to the target, sighting only one flight of four Me 262’s, which were run off without damage to them or our Big Friends. As our bombers approached Munich, Hellcat Squadron pulled left to the southeast of town in order to remain out of the accurate flak area. This squadron was assigned to cover the bombers in a general way, with Tudor and Acorn Squadrons covering one apiece of our two assigned boxes. All three squadrons orbited just south of town above bombing level, rendering area support and observing excellent bomb results on Oberweisenfeld Airdrome.

As our second group got its bombs away, an Me 262 was sighted below by Major Giller, leading Tudor Squadron. He dropped tanks and gave chase with his White flight, destroying the e/a as it attempted to belly in on Munich/Riem Airfield. White flight went across the A/F, west to east, at deck level after the blow job. On the way across Lt. Allen, Tudor white 4, strafed and burned completely one Me 410 on the SE portion of the field. Many aircraft were sighted on the field, but since the flak was severe, Tudor Leader elected to orbit just south of town at 3,000 feet, hoping that the bombers coming along soon would provide a flak lull for better strafing conditions.

While circling at this altitude Tudor White flight was joined by Tudor Red flight led by Capt. Welch. Very shortly thereafter Tudor Leader spotted an He 111 being towed south on the main autobahn just south of Munich. He dropped down, and upon investigation of the e/a’s destination, he sighted many beautifully hidden aircraft of all types, including jets, parked on the autobahn shoulders and backed into the woods about six miles south of Munich and surrounding Munich /Brunnthal Landing Ground. All aircraft were covered with brush nets, providing excellent camouflage and making detection very difficult. Tudor Leader gave position and requested permission to beat up a few, and upon receiving same proceeded with his attacks.

Acorn Squadron was assigned by Windsor to withdraw with the bombers. Hellcat Squadron and Tudor Yellow Section furnished top cover until Tudor White’s ammunition was expended. As Tudor White Section withdrew Hellcat

-1-

CONFIDENTIAL

White Section dropped down and beat the area until all of their ammunition was exhausted. Then in turn Tudor Yellow and Hellcat Yellow emptied their guns in the woods, leaving the finest mass of burning destruction ever seen by the undersigned. Each pilot fired most of his ammunition, and there were so many targets that it is sincerely felt that personal claims are accurate and very conservative. There were no less than 100 aircraft in the immediate area, and flak was limited to three or four light inaccurate guns. I made eight to ten passes and had one or more aircraft as targets east time, and each of the approximately 35 aircraft involved had the same opportunity.

ELWYN G. RIGHETTI
Lt. Col., Air Corps.

Note: Lt. Col. Righetti is MIA from 17 April 1945. This report was written by Lt. Col. Righetti prior to his last mission, but was not mimeographed at that time, thus his signature on this report is not available.

-2-

CONFIDENTIAL

38TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

Total Claims: 24-0-12

WINDSOR – flying HELLCAT WHITE LEADER

My first pass was from north to south down the autobahn. An Me 262 (1) was destroyed on this attack, while several hits damaged an U/I T/E aircraft (2). Pulling around in a 270 to the right, I made another pass, this time from west to east, destroying two U/I T/E aircraft (3 and 4). As I broke off the attack, I observed three fires from these four e/a.

Making a 360 to port I attacked two Me 262’s (5 and 6) from west to east in a head-on pass, destroying both. One immediately exploded and as I closed in on the second it caught on fire.

I then made four to five passes on e/a dispersed along the northern perimeter of the airfield proper. Although I scored hits on several, since it was impossible for me to determine the extent of damage, I make no claims.

On my final pass I attacked two e/a, a long-nose FW 190 (7) and an U/I T/E aircraft (8) parked at the northeast end of the field, on a head-on pass from west to east. The 190 caught on fire and I therefore claim it as destroyed, while the U/I T/E e/a suffered considerable damage.

As a result of the above strafing attacks, I make the following claims.

(1) 1     Me 262     Destroyed                                Ammo. expended:    1,500 rounds.
(2) 1     U/I T/E     Damaged
(3) 1     U/I T/E     Destroyed
(4) 1     U/I T/E     Destroyed
(5) 1     Me 262     Destroyed
(6) 1     Me 262     Destroyed
(7) 1     FW 190    (Long-nose) Destroyed
(8) 1     U/I T/E     Damaged

ELWYN G. RIGHETTI
O-396312, Lt. Col., Air Corps.

********

HELLCAT WHITE TWO

I stayed with Lt. Col. Righetti for the first four passes while he attacked (1), (2), (3) and (4). On the 4th pass I fired my guns for the first time, getting hits on and damaging a U/I T/E (9) just south of his claimed e/a.
After this I became separated from the Colonel. I looked around for him without success – then attacked another U/I T/E E/A (10) from east to west, scoring hits and causing damage.

-3-

CONFIDENTIAL