VIII Fighter Command FO-111 FIGHTER SWEEPS

23 August 1943

Description

A combined force of 158 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are sent on fighter sweeps of the Bruges/Woensdrect/Schipol area. Those of 353FG make a high altitude approach in an attempt to confuse the German radar operators into thinking they were a bomber force. It didn't work. No losses or claims and no German fighters were encountered.

Mission Details

BRUGES / WOENSDRECHT / SCHIPHOL

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter sweep over Holland. The 353rd Fighter Group simulates bombers.

353rd Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

4th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

56th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

From left to right: Captain Walker L. Boone, Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez and Flight Officer Gerry E. Brasher, pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, sit on the bonnet of a jeep at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - the "Guardian Angels" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Pho

78th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

Aircraft sent: 158

Revisions

Date25 May 2015 19:26:34

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:19

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'.