VIII Fighter Command FO-108 BOMBER ESCORT

19 August 1943

Description

A combined force of 178 P-47s are despatched from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG to provide escort for the B-17 formations despatched to bomb the Gilze-Rijen and Woensdrecht airfields in Holland. 4FG and 78FG provide fighter cover on the penetration and 56FG and 353FG provide escort for the withdrawl. The bombers actually make two orbits which causes the fighter support to stay longer than planned. 1 P-47 from 56FG sustains an engine failure and the pilot is forced to bale out over eney occupied territory in Holland and is captured. 1POW.

Mission Details

GILZE-RIJEN / WOENSDRECHT

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: The bombers made two orbits in the target area before abandoning the mission. This caused the fighters to remain in the area much longer than planned. The 4th Fighter Group and 78th Fighter Group cover withdrawal and the 56th Fighter Group and 353rd Fighter Group escorted the penetration. One 56th Fighter Group P-47 is lost, pilot Missing in Action (MIA).

Mission Statistics

  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 9
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 175
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Connections

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People

A P-47 Thunderbolt (LH-T, serial number 42-74665) nicknamed "Fatty Patty II" of the 353rd Fighter Group flown by Captain Charles W Dinse shoots down a BF 110 during a mission. Gun camera image. Printed caption on reverse: '50416 AC - Discovering an Me 110 below him, Capt. Charles W. Dinsa, 304 Touhy Ave., Park Ridge, Ill., dove down and destroyed it. The pictures were taken by his automatic camera as his bullets found their mark. Credit for the kill was shared with Lt. Richard A. Stearns, Jr., 102 Forest
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665391
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-666533
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-May-2015. Added fighter claims per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The 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'.