[Paul A. Conger oral history interview]

Fighter ace Paul A. Conger discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot and his time in Europe with the 61st and 63rd Fighter Squadrons of the 56th Fighter Group. Special focus on several of his combat missions in Germany and the Netherlands, including one in which he encountered a large group of German planes near Emden, Germany and scored several aerial victories.

Paul A. Conger was born on May 3, 1918 in Los Angeles, California. He joined the United States Army Air Forces and graduated from flight school in July of 1942. He served two tours of duty with the 56th Fighter Group in Europe, flying with the 61st Fighter Squadron and 63rd Fighter Squadron from 1943 to 1945. Conger remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war and retired as a colonel in 1957. In his civilian life, he operated an air charter service and worked in the heavy equipment and truck leasing business until his retirement in 1980. He passed away in 1994.

Biographical information courtesy of: Boyce, Ward J., ed., American fighter aces album. Mesa, Ariz: American Fighter Aces Association, 1996.