VIII Fighter Command

2 October 1942

Description

1FG despatches 31 P-38s to escort bombers attacking the aircraft factory at Meaulte, France, sustaining one loss. 1FG also despatches 34 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 7 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 4FG despatches 19 P-38s over the English Channel on practice sweeps; 31FG despatches 36 Spitfires as an escort for an RAF mission.

Mission Details

ST OMER/ LONGEUNESSE

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: First mission for 4th Fighter Group escorting bombers. Spitfires of 4FG on first mission as escort to diversionary force attacking St Omer Fighter Group E/A credits- 4 FG- 4

Mission Statistics

  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 23

MEAULTE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: P-38s as escort to main force attacking Meaulte. This is the first time that fighters have specifically escorted bombers and this is the last time that P-38s will be used to escort bombers until 3-Nov-43. The 1st Fighter Group has its first loss shot down by an enemy fighter to near Calais, 2LT William H. Young is Killed in Action (KIA).

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
  • People killed in action: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 31
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: Despatched as escort for RAF for Boston Bombers. Target not in available data. This is the last operation of the 31st Fighter Group from the UK.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 36

ENGLISH CHANNEL

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 19

ENGLISH CHANNEL

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: This group of fighters make practice sweeps and defensive sorties. First mission for 14th Fighter Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 34

ENGLISH CHANNEL

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 7

Connections

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

People

Raymond Myles Beecham Duke-Woolley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: British
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 4th Fighter Group Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) No 71 'Eagle' Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33241 RAF
  • Highest Rank: Wing Commander
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Wing and later Group commander
Lieutenant Robert Boock, Lieutenant James Clarke, Captain William T O'Regan, Lieutenant-Colonel Chesley G Peterson, Captain Richard McMinn, Captain Stanley Anderson and Captain Oscar Coen of the 4th Fighter Group with a Spitfire at Debden Passed by the U.S. Army censor on 30 March 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson D.S.O., D.F.C., U.S. Army Air Force 4th (crossed through with censor's red pencil) Group Britain, who formerly commanded the old Eagle Squadron, seen at

Richard D McMinn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885135
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

William Brewster Morgan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885093
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William Hughes Young

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 1st Fighter Group 71st Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

EN853

  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to statistics 4-0-1 on Meaulte escort.per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, The Mighty Eighths War Diary, p. 18

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

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'.