VIII Fighter Command FO-209 BOMBER ESCORT

24 December 1943

Description

This fighter mission is despatched to provide escort to bombers that are attacking V-Weapon sites near the Pase-de-Calaise, France. The operation has three elements. The first element is a force of 40 P-38s from 55FG. There are no losses or claims.



The second element is a combined forc of 459 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 358FG; and 359FG. There are no losses of aircraft to combat but three are involvoed in crashes upone retrun, pilots OK, 3RTD. There are no claims on enemy aircraft.



The third element is a force of 42 P-51s from 354FG (9th Air Force) operating under VIII Fighter Command constrol. There are no losses or claims.

Mission Details

PAS DE CALAISE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 40

PAS DE CALAISE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 354th Fighter Group of IX Fighter Command contributes 42 P-51s to the escort. (9th Air Force totals not included in totals)

Mission Statistics

  • People returned to duty: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 459
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3

Connections

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

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

Charles W Dinse

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665391
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-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'.