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On June 6, 1944, as Allied forces stormed Normandy's beaches, 1st Lieutenant Peter Caulfield engaged eight enemy fighters over France in deadly aerial combat. His gripping firsthand account reveals the split-second decisions and fierce dogfighting that decided victory in the skies above D-Day.
OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 83RD FIGHTER SQUADRON
INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT REFERENCE PLAN STUDY
a. Combat
b.6 June 1944
83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group.
d. 1630 hours.
e. Mayenne, France
f. 5-7/10 cumulus at 4-8,000 feet. Excellent visibility
g. FW 190
h. 1 FW 190 destroyed
i. Cargo white flight bounced a section of five or eight FW 190’s flying south on the deck, jest west of Mayenne. The e/a were being pursued by two planes of Cargo red flight. As Cargo white flight closed, the e/a made a 90 degree right turn into us. I fired several short bursts at the e/a already being engaged by other P-47’s. I then singled one out and began firing at him in a turning circle, using 60-90 degrees deflection. After hitting him heavily the e/a “dished” out of the Lufberry, rolled, spun and then crashed.
7 June 1944. PETER A CAULFIELD,
1ST Lt., Air Corps,
?83rd Fighter Squadron
Supporting statement of claim: I was flying in Cargo White flight when we bounced eight to ten FW-190’s. we got in a Lufberry with one and Lt. Caulfield started firing at him. He hit him a couple of times and then the FW-190 snapped out of the Lufberry and headed for the deck. He pulled out and went into a steep turn but snagged a wing and burst into flame.
Vincent J. Massa,
1st Lt., Air Corps,
83rd Fighter Squadron.
