8th Air Force FO 257 IX FC BOMBER ESCORT

2 March 1944

Description

47 P-51s from IX Fighter Command are despatched at part of the escort for bombers attacking the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany. Freeman indicates 1 FTR from this element, but this loss could not be confirmed. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) when it ran out of petrol and crashed upon approach to Boxted - 1RTD. 2 other aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-0 of German aircraft on the ground.

Mission Details

Frankfurt, Germany

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) is the only unit providing P-51s to this escort and they claim two on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 47
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 2

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Aircraft

42-37886

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blitzing Betsy
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2016. Edited title.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Completed statistics confrimed from "The Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey. MBE

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. DBR confirmed from "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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'.