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On June 6, 1944, as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, First Lieutenant William McElhare engaged a German Fw 190 fighter in deadly aerial combat above the French countryside. His firsthand combat report reveals the split-second decisions and fierce dogfighting that determined life or death at 500 feet.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY SECOND FIGHTER SQUADRON
AAF STATION F-150, APO 637
U. S. ARMY
Personal Combat Report
VIII Fighter Command F.O. No.371
a. Combat
b. 6 June, 1944
c. 62nd Fighter Squadron
d. Approx. 1230 hours
e. Vicinity Rambouillet
f. 8/10 cloud, base 6,000’
g. Fw 190
h. One Fw 190 claimed Destroyed.
i. “I was flying White Two and had made one pass on a troop train in the vicinity of Rambouillet. Pulling up for a second pass, I saw an Fw 190 at 500’, coming down the tracks from the East, at 8 or 9 O’Clock to me. He evidently saw me at about the same time and started to turn so I poured the coal to it and we swung into a Lufberry.
As we climbed, circling, I used water, managing to keep above the Hun. Continuing to tighten the circle, I was gradually catching up on him and forcing him lower and lower. Just as I was about to draw deflection and fire he reversed his turn, snapped violently to the left and dove in to the deck from about 300’. The e/a exploded in a huge mass of flame and smoke while I took pictures of it with my gun camera.
I claim one Fw 190 Destroyed.”
WILLIAM W. McELHARE,
1st Lt., Air Corps.
ARMAMENT REPORT
Lt. William W. McElhare 42-76093
