CONFIDENTIAL
PILOT'S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. Combat (Ground Attack)
B. 16 April 1945
C. 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group
D. 1545
E. Ainring Airfield, near Salzburg.
F. 5/10's - 3,000 ft. ceiling.
G. FW 190's and FW 189's.
H. One (1) FW 189 Destroyed (Ground) Capt. Walter Strauch. 0-743125
One (1) FW 190 Destroyed (Ground) 2nd Lt. Jack A. Bevington. 0-808217
One (1) FW 190 Destroyed (Ground) Capt. Chester E. Coggeshall. 0-754471 (MIA)
One (1) FW 190 Destroyed (Ground) 2nd Lt. George A. Apple 0-834930 (MIA).
I. I was flying Tudor Red 3 on the mission of 16 April. We passed over Ainring
A/D in the vicinity of Salzburg. About 25 to 30 aircraft of all types were seen
to be parked around the field. Red Leader, Capt. Coggeshall, decided to attack
the field, so we came in to the field out of the hills to the south of it,
making our pass from south to north. I saw Red Leader and his wingman, Lt.
Apple, firing at 190's. I picked a FW 189 and my wingman, Lt. Bevington, chose
another 190. I got a good concentration of hits on my target and saw it burst
into flame. When we pulled up off the field I saw Red Leader, Capt. Coggeshall,
in a shallow dive attempting a crash landing. Since I had also been hit by flak
we did not attempt any further attacks on the field. However, on looking back
over the field after Capt. Coggeshall had gone in, I could see that there were
four distinct fires burning. I therefore claim one FW 189 destroyed by myself
and confirm one FW 190 destroyed by each of the foloowing: Capt. Coggeshall, Red
Leader, Lt. Apple, Red 2, and Lt. Bevington, my wingman.
J. Ammunition expended - 750 rounds.
WALTER STRAUCH,
0-743125, Capt., Air Corps.
........
I. I was flying Red 4 on Lt. Strauch's wing. When we came across the field from
out of the south, I was trailing behind the rest of the flight. I picked out a
FW 190 for my target and fired a short burst at it. The strikes were pretty well
concentrated about the engine and nose of the aircraft. It had begun to smoke
badly when I passed over it. I did not get a chance to look back at it since the
flak was pretty heavy and our flight leader, Capt. Coggeshall, had been hit and
was attempting a crash landing. However, since I came across the field last and
well behind the rest of the flight, I could see that there were three fires
already started on it. I therefore claim one FW 190 destroyed by myself and
confirm the destruction of one FW 190 by Capt. Coggeshall, one FW 190 by Lt.
Apple, and one FW 189 by Lt. Strauch.
J. Ammunition expended - 90 rounds.
Capt. Coggeshall, MIA 16 April
Lt. Apple, MIA 17 April
JACK A. BEVINGTON,
0-808217, 2nd Lt., Air Corps.
CONFIDENTIAL