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29 November 1943
Flight Surgeon Captain George R. Hornig serves up tea to pilots of the 56th Fighter Group in the mess at Halesworth air base. On the front row are, left to right: Captain Francis S. Gabreski, Lieutenant Eugene E. Barnum, an unknown pilot and Lieutenant-Colonel David C. Schilling. Passed for publication 29 November 1943. Printed caption attached to the rest of this series: '"Ace" Flight-Surgeon is combination family physician, foster-father and chaplain.' And: 'Associated Press photo shows: "Doc" Hornig helps to serve "his boys" in the mess on their return from an operational flight.'
Flight Surgeon Captain George R. Hornig talks to pilots of the 56th Fighter Group in the mess at Halesworth air base. On the front row are, left to right: Lieutenant-Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, Lieutenant Eugene E. Barnum, an unknown pilot and Lieutenant-Colonel David C. Schilling. Passed for publication 29 November 1943. Printed caption attached to the rest of this series: '"Ace" Flight-Surgeon is combination family physician, foster-father and chaplain.' And: 'Associated Press photo shows: "Doc" Hornig helps to serve "his boys" in the mess on their return from an operational flight.'
Not yet known
This mission is composed of two fighter elements despatached to escort B-17 formations attacking at Bremen, Germany. The first element is a force of 38 P-38s (includes some from 20FG/77FS) from 55FG. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 5KIA 2POW. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-2 of attacking German fighters.
The second element is a combined force of 314 P-47 from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, 355FG, and 356FG. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 4KIA 5POW. 1 airman in a returing aircraft is wounded (WIA). The fighters of this element claim 13-4-4 of attacking German fighters.
FIGHTER ESCORT
P-38 Lightning
Not yet known
Group
In August 1943, the 20th Fighter Group arrived in Clyde, Scotland, before travelling to Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, which was to be their base for the rest of the war. The Group flew 312 missions before their last mission on 25 April 1945. The...
Group
The 55th Fighter Group were the first P-38 Lightning Group to go fully operational from England. The pilots flew long-range escort missions for bombers flying over occupied Europe and racked up 'kills' of their own by destroying enemy aircraft in...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 7 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Fighter Command | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
FIGHTER ESCORT
P-47 Thunderbolt
Escort for bombers on Bremen raid. High winds caused fuel shortages.
Group
The 352nd Fighter Group were based at Bodney, Norfolk from July 1943 until November 1945 but in the winter months of 1944/1945 detachments moved to bases in Belgium to provide extra air support to ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge and to...
Group
The 353rd Fighter Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 June 1943. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts, and from October 1944, P-51 Mustangs, as escorts for bombing missions across occupied Europe and to strafe targets on the ground. Tactical...
Group
Where the 353rd Fighter Group had pioneered ground strafing techniques, it was the 355th Fighter Group who destroyed more enemy aircraft by ground strafing than any other Eighth Air Force Group. Based at Steeple Morden from July 1943 to July 1945, the...
Group
The 356th Fighter Group flew 413 missions between 15 October 1943 and 7 May 1945 and suffered the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of any Eighth Air Force Group. This gave the Group the reputation of being the 'hard luck' outfit. The...
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter...
Group
Flying P-47 Thunderbolts throughout their time stationed in England, the Group, known as "the Wolfpack", had more ace pilots than any other Eighth Air Force Fighter Group. The 56th Fighter Group also destroyed more enemy aircraft in air combat than any...
Group
The 78th Fighter Group was initially based at Goxhill but moved to Duxford in April 1943 and stayed there until October 1945. The 78th FG flew each of the three US built principal fighters of the AAF in the ETO. In their Thundetbolts, the 78th FG ...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 314 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 9 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 4 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 5 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Fighter Command | 13 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Fighter Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 4 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 55th Fighter Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 29-Nov-43 while pilot of P-38H 42-67051 when his aircraft was shot down at Hoogeveen, Holland. The aircraft with 2LT Albert A. Albino crashed into the railroad marshalling yards at Hoogeveen, Holland. He was originally listed...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
On 29-Nov-43 2LT Julius B. Asbridge was piloting P-47D 42-8502, 356FG/360FS on a mission to support bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. His flight approached a six-aircraft formation of bombers from the rear and closed to about 500 yards. The flight...
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter pilot | 356th Fighter Group
On 29-Nov-43 1LT Warren H Beach was piloting P-47D 42-8601 on a mission to escort bomber attacking at Bremen, Germany. Shortly after reaching the Dutch coast his aircraft lost oil pressure and had an engine failure. 1Lt Beach baled out of the aircraft...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 55th Fighter Group
On 29-Nov-43 2LT John J Carrol was piloting P-38H 42-67090 "FOB Detroit" from 55FG/38FS along with other P-38s from 55FG on a mission to escort bombers attaking at Bremen, Germany. The flight was attacked by German fighters near Mepple, Holland. 2LT...
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Photographer/Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) 5 December 1943
AM/ PH
Listed as "photographer" on the crew list on the mission he was KIA. Davis appears to have flown his previous missions as a waist gunner.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 55th Fighter Group
Killed in Action (KIA) On 29-Nov-43 as pilot of P-38H 42-67046, 55FG/38FS when his aircraft was shot down by German fighters near Evreux, France while on a mission to provide escort to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 55th Fighter Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 29-Nov-43 as the pilot of P-38H 42-67097 while on a mission to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. His aircraft was battle damaged in an attack by German fighters but he was able to bale out of the stricken aircraft....
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot, Pilot | 20th Fighter Group
On 26-Nov-43 as pilot of P-38H 42-67016, 20FG/77FS he was despatched as a spare and joing P-38s from 55FG in a mission to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. His aircraft was attacked by German fighters over Wanneperveen, Holland. He was able...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
On 29-Nov-43 1LT Charles K. Hecht, Jr. was the piloting of P-47D 42-8631 [YF:U], 355FG/358BS on a mission to provide penetration support to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. When the flight reashed Holland it was attacked by German fighters. The...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
On 29-Nov-43, 2LT John D. Hull was piloting P-47D 42-8598 [OC:D], 356FG/361FS on a mission to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. On the return the aircraft ran short of fuel due to strong headwinds. 2LT Hull knowing that he would not have...
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47D-2-RA 42-22484 [YF:L] "Slugger" was assigned to the 355FG/358FS at Steeple Morden, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT Richard A. Peery, was despatched as a spare with other P-47s of 355FG to provide penetration support to bombers...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67016 was assigned to 20FG/77FS at Kings Cliffe, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT John S. Hascall, was despatched as a spare with other P-38 from 73FG to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. The aircraft was attacked...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67020 was assigned to the 55FG/38FS at Nuthampstead, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by MAJ Milton Joel (Commanding Officer of 38FS), was despatched with other P-38s of 55FG to provide escort for bombers attacking at Bremen,...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67046 was assigned to the 55FG/38FS at Nuthampstead, UK. The aircraft, piloted by 2LT James M Garvin, was attacked and shot dwon by German fighters west of Oldenburg, Germany while on a mission to escort bombers attacking at Bremen,...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67051 was assigned to the 55FG/38FS at Nuthampstead, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT Albert A. Albino, was despatched with other P-38s of 55FG to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. The aircraft was shot down by...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67069 was assigned to the 55FG/338FS at Nuthampstead, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT Fleming W. Suiter, was despatched with other P-38s from 55FG to provide escort to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. When the flight...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67090 "FOB Detroit" was assigned to the 55FG/338FS at Nuthampstead. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT John J. Carrol, was despatched along with other P-38s from 55 FG to provide escort to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. When...
P-38 Lightning
P-38H-5-LO 42-67097 was assigned to the 55FG/343FS aat Nuthampstead. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT James W. Gilbride, was despatched along with other P-38s from 55FG to provide escort to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. The flight was...
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47D-1-RE 42-7893 was assigned to the 56FG/63FS at Halesworth, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT Frederick C. Windmayer, was despatched with other P-47 of 56FG to provide penetration support to bombers that were attacking at Bremen,...
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47D-2-RE 42-7996 was asssigned to the 355FG/354FS at Steeple Morden, UK. On 29-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by 2LT Alfred J. Del Negro, was despatched with other P-47s from 355FG to provide penetration support to bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany....
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2015 20:53:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTRs and POWs in description of P-38 element after review of MACR 1273. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 July 2015 20:52:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTR losses and POW statistics following review of MACR 1273. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 21:23:34 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 21:22:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 21:21:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to name and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 12:13:28 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:20 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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'. |
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