Official description
Not yet known
Description
6 Spitfire VB aircraft from 31FG join with 412 (Falcon) Squadron RCAF flying from Merston on a fighter sweep over Abbeville and St. Omer, France. Lt Col Albert P. Clark, O-020218, 31FG Executive Officer flying EN784 is shot down and captured becoming the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to become a POW.
Lieutenant Colonel Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of the 31st Fighter Group, is shot down while flying an RAF fighter on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to be shot down in the ETO; he survives and is taken prisoner by the Germans.
Mission details
1. ABBEVILLE / SAINT-OMER / GRAVELINES
Description
FIGHTER SWEEP
Aircraft type
Spitfire
Notes
A fighter sweep. This is the first all 8th Air Force fighter mission (Spitfires). One aircraft is listed Missing in Action (MIA), it's pilot is LT COL Albert Clark bails out and is made a POW. This is the first operation of the 31st Fighter Group since arriving in the UK in June 1942.
Units
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Group
The 31st Fighter Group only flew missions from England between June and September 1942 but during this period they supported the Dieppe raid, the assault on occupied Europe, predominantly by the Canadian army. The attack was forced into early retreat...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
6 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
6 |
Number of aircraft Missing In Action |
1 |
Service
People
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Military | Lieutenant General | Pilot | 31st Fighter Group
Shot down doing a sweep over France with the 412 Squadron (Royal Canadian Air Force) 26 July 1942 while assigned to 31st Fighter Group as a Lieutenant Colonel, flying Spitfire Mk Vb, BL964. Prisoner of War (POW). Was executive officer of the 31st FG in...
Aircraft
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Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BL964 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
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