VIII Fighter Command FO-192

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 he media-377483.jpg FRE 239 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.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 239 - 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,...

Description

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.

Mission Details

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 5
  • Prisoners of war: 2
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 38
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Escort for bombers on Bremen raid. High winds caused fuel shortages.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 5
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 13
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 314
  • Aircraft missing in action: 9
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Connections

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

People

Albert A Albino

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19081219 / O-743300
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Julius Brooks Asbridge

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-532306
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Warren H Beach

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045367 / O-796644
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

John J Carroll

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-743313
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William E Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13123718
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Photographer / Waist Gunner

Aircraft

42-22484

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Slugger
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron

42-67016

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
A P-38 Lightning aircraft with "flying wolf" nose art. This particular design was adopted as a persoanl insignia by Major Milton Joel, Commanding Officer of the 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide:"N3 1-26"

42-67020

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

42-67046

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

42-67051

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Spirit of Aberdeen
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTRs and POWs in description of P-38 element after review of MACR 1273.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTR losses and POW statistics following review of MACR 1273.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.

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'.

VIII Fighter Command FO-192: Gallery (2 items)

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

Object number: FRE 223 - Flight Surgeon Captain George R. Hornig talks to...

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 he

Object number: FRE 239 - Flight Surgeon Captain George R. Hornig serves up...