VIII Fighter Command FO-177 BOMBER ESCORT
11 November 1943Description
This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 59 P-38 combined from 55FG and 20FG/79FS despatched to provide escort for the bomber formations attacking at Munster.
The second element was a combined force of 342 P-47s from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, and 356FG despatched to escort the bombers directed to attack at Wesel, Germany. The bomber fomarions are recalled but the fighter do engage some German fighters and claim 8-1-2 of the attacking German aircraft. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 3KIA (confirmed from MACR records). 1 aircraft returned damaged.
Mission Details
MUNSTER/WESEL
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: 20th Fighter Group/79th Fighter Squadron (P-38) accompanied 55th Fighter Group.
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 59
MUNSTER/WESEL
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighter escort for raid on Munster and Wesel, Germany.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 8
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 342
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015, Added FTR to P-47 element. Freeman had it a 2 MIA but 3 acutally FTR based on MACR records 1439 1440 and 1450.
Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to the P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.