The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-07-03

The Army Air Forces fighter
squadron in North Africa composed
81 Negro pilots has wea;hcrcd lis
frs, aerial combat test. six OF It's
planes encoun;erins a larger for
nation ~ German fShicrs and dam
agins two Of the enemy without
loss 10 themselves according 20 \
message 10 the Wsg Department
this week.
This squadron, after careful train
Ing in this country and in North
Africa. had previously been IN ac-
ton during the air siege OF me
island Of Pantel,eria rs pilots did
ps,rol duty, escorted heavy bomb
srs and served as fighter bomocrs
with other units OF the tactical air
force over Pnntclleria and Lampe-
Ausz. However. during the hrsf
half OF June they did not have
much chance 10 show their ability
In a test OF strength against enemy
fighters During ina; time they were
fred on only once and when they
turned toward the enemy aircraft.
the b;icr fled.
In Action June IL
On The late afternoon OF June IL
came the frs, engagement, ~ INC
air 4 flight OF SIX p-A0's ed %y
First IL Charles w D.ydcn, -
wears old, or 500 Home street,
Bronx. New York City, was al
tackled over Psn,cllcTls. then IN
Allied hands. by force OF IL
German FW 1905 trying 30 rad
the island. Ten more German fsht-
ers lowered above 10 protect the
bombcrS which ne FW 1905 were
escoriing. In a lively encounter the
American Negro flyers parricd me
Nazi thrust. damaged ;wo az nc
German hghter planes and forced
the remainder 10 retreat
First LIZ. Lee Raytord Of Ardwick.
Md. said nc was more surprised
than alarmed when his wing was
struck by machine gun and cannon
fire in this. his first flight under
the guns OF enemy aircraft lie
brought his ship back safely.
1t Col. r. O DAVIS Jr, COM
handing officer Of the squadron,
SAID, 1T vas the first time am OF
them ever shot at the enemy. They
cave good account, Of themselves
considering tho odds against them
and. most important, they all came
back safely"
Ii. Dryden who LEFT City College,
New York. where nc was an en-
rincerlng student, 10 become p!!o.
said nc thought the fight would
give the flyers the confidence they
needed. the confidence that could
not be gained by mere training
First 1t Sidney + Brooks OF
5000 f. street. Cleveland, Ohio,
sighted the enemy fighters above
his formation and warned the others
iust as the FWS Owed TO attack.
Attacked In Formation
"They attacked in formation OF
four" said 1t. Dryden. "and we
counted u coming down on us.
Another ten stayed above as high
cover for the enemy bombcrs We
turned into them and they made
diving attacks on US individually.
When they started back up we
went with them and they began a
wide circle. with us after them
Then they broke Of. and climbed
above us and stayed there waiting
for another chance 10 dive on us
We stayed around until tho con-
troller ordered MS home v
Second 1t. Willie Ashley Jr, Of
.l2 West Bartlett street Sumter
s. C., said his gas needle pointed
10 empty when he finally landed
The other planes were all low on
gas also.
1t. Rayford said his plane was
nit while he was Airing on two
FW 1905. while ! was after the
two" he said. "a third cot on my
tail. That's the first time I've ever
been shot at.
Four Shot Down
The Americans were too busy e
Get close shot at the bomber!
although 1t Dryden fired ono flcct
ing burst Al ono ~ them. They
Nere unable TO state whether>ih'
bombers had reached their ooIee