William Kemp
361st Fighter Group 09/12/1944
ENCOUNTER REPORT
A. COMBAT.
B. 12 SEPTEMBER 1944. F.O. 565, VIII FIGHTER COMMAND.
C. 375TH FIGHTER SQUADRON. 361ST FIGHTER GROUP.
D. 1115 HOURS.
E. 10 MILES NE MAGDEBURG, GERMANY.
F. CAVU.
G. ME-109.
H. 3 ME-109’S DESTROYED. AIR.
I. I WAS LEADING CADET YELLOW FLIGHT. WE WERE FLYING PARALLEL WITH THE
THE BOMBERS AT 25,000 FEET OVER THE TARGET, WHEN I OBSERVED A GAGGLE OF
10 E/A APPROACHING FROM ONE O’CLOCK FLYING PERPENDICULAR TO OUR COURSE.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT 12 O’CLOCK, THEY TURNED AWAY FROM US AND FLEW
APPROXIMATELY 40 SECONDS. THEY THEN DROPPED THEIR BELLY TANKS AND
TURNED 180 DEGREES INTO US. WE WERE WAITING FOR THEM, AND OUR TEN
SHIPS BROKE INTO A LUFTBERRY WITH THEIR TEN. I SINGLED OUT ONE AND
GAVE HIM A SHORT BURST AT 200 YARDS WITH 30 DEGREES DEFLECTION. I
OBSERVED HITS IN THE WING ROOTS AND SAW THE PILOT BAIL OUT. I THEN
SLIPPED IN BEHIND ANOTHER AND GAVE HIM A BURST FROM 50 YARDS, DEAD
ASTERN, AT 200 MPH. HITS WERE OBSERVED IN THE COCKPIT. HE SPUN ALL
THE WAY FROM 25,000 FEET INTO THE DECK. I THEN OBSERVED A ME-109
CHASING A P-51 TO THE DECK. I BROKE AFTER THEM AND STARTED FIRING AT
ABOUT 350 YARDS. THE P-51 EVADED THE ME-109 BY A SHARP SPLIT-ESS FROM
10,000 FEET. THE ME KEPT GOING FOR THE DECK AND I FOLLOWED, SHOOTING.
AT INTERVALS FROM 150 YARDS DEAD ASTERN AT 350 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY
50 FEET ABOVE THE DECK, I OBSERVED HITS IN THE CANOPY AND THE ME
FLIPPED OVER AND WENT STRAIGHT IN CRASHING IN A BALL OF FLAME. I CLAIM
THREE ME-109’S DESTROYED.
J. E2-X. 44-14270. 1813 ROUNDS. P-51
WILLIAM T. KEMP
2ND LT., A.C.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
I WAS LEADING CADET SQUADRON WHEN LT. KEMP BOUNCED THE FORMATION OF
ME-109’S. I SAW LT. KEMP SINGLE ONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT I DID.
I LOOKED OVER AT HIM JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE PILOT OF THE ME-109 HE WAS
FIRING AT RELEASE THE CANOPY AND BAIL OUT.
CHARLES R. CUMMINS
MAJOR, A.C.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by William Kemp of the 361st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of William Kemp's combat experience.
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