8th Air Force 282 BOMBER ESCORT
27 March 1944Description
A combined force of 960 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 ad P-51 are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking 11 German airfields and air depots in France. 243 of the 960 are frunished by IX Fighter Command. The P-51 element also attacks German airfields in strafing attacks. Decspatch summary follows:
A combined force of 132 P-38s from: 20FG; 55FG and 364FG are despatched. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 2POW. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash upon return - 1RTD. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 706 P-47 from: 8th Air Force: 56Fg; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 356FG; 359FG and 361FG. These are joined by others from IX Fighter Command: 363FG; 365FG; 366FG; and 368FG. Three of the IX FC units fly two missions: one for penetrations support and one for withdrawl support. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) (8th AF units) - 2KIA 2POW 1EVD. 3 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crashes upon return - 3RTD. 4 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is WIA. The fighters in this element claim 6-0-2 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses, casulaties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 122 P-51s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG; 355FG; and 357FG. These are joined by other form IX Fighter Command: 354FG. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 2POW. 1 aircraft is damaged. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-3 of attacking German aircraft in the air and another 30-1-11 on the ground in strafing attacks. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
Mission Details
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Mission Statistics
- Prisoners of war: 2
- People returned to duty: 1
- Aircraft sent: 132
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
FRENCH AIRFIELD ATTACK
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: 362nd Fighter Group, 365th Fighter Group, 366th Fighter Group and 368th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributed an undetermined number of P-47s to the escort, number included in total despatch. 3 IX Fighter Command P-47 groups flew two missions. All losses from 8th Air Force.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 2
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 2
- People returned to duty: 3
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 706
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 4
FRENCH AIRFIELD ATTACK
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Notes: 354th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributes an undetermined number of P-51s to the escort, number included in total despatched. All losses from 8th Air Force. Claims include 30-1-11 on the ground
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 32
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 14
- Aircraft sent: 122
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 9-Mar-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on enemy fighters to P-51 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-Mar-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on enemy fighters to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman; "Losses of the 9th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACRS.
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.