VIII Fighter Command ESCORT-VIII BC 29
13 January 1943Description
4ht Fighter Group despatches 69 Spitfires to provide bomber escort. The escort is provided to the attacking force of VIII Bomber Command Mission 29 attacking Lille, France; and to two RAF bomber formations attacking targets at St. Omer, France. Exact dispositions to these three elements has not yer been determined. This is the first instance where 8AF fighters have been specifically to escort an 8AF heavy bomb mission. 1 Spitfire is forced down at Tangmere with Category B damage (it was repaired).
Also, 4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on a fighter patrol along the English Coast.
Mission Details
ENGLISH COAST
Description: DEFENSIVE PATROL
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: Defensive patrol of English Coast.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 2
SAINT OMER
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: Spitfires are despatched to escort the 8th Air Force bombers as well as two raids by RAF Bostons against St. Omer. One Spitfire is listed as Missing in Action (MIA) but it was actually forced down by engine failure at Tangmere in England. This is the first time that fighters have been specifically used to escort 8th Air Force bombers.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 5
- Aircraft sent: 69
- Aircraft damaged: 1
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39171219
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to statistics on St. Omer escort per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Dec-2014. Description based on 'The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A, Freeman.
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'.