VIII Fighter Command FO 226 BOMBER ESCORT
29 January 1944Description
A combined force of 632 fighter aircraft of 3 types: P38; P4; and P-51 are despatched to provide escort for the heavy bombers attacking at Frankfurt, Germany. Mission summary as follows:
89 P-38s are despatched from 20FG & 55FG. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA. Freeman has 5 FTRs but only 4 were confirmed from 20FG records. 1 aircraft with battle dmage made a crash landing at Bury St. Edmunds and was determined to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - RTD. 3 others were dmaged. The fighters in this element claimed 10-1-1 of attacking German aircraft.
503 P-47s are despatched from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 358FG, 359FG; and 361FG. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 4POW 1 INT. 2 aircraft with battle damaged crashlanded at Lashden, UK and was determined to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DRB) - 1RTD. 1 other aircraft was damaged. The fighters in this element claim 42-4-9 of attacking German aircraft.
40 P-51s from IX Fighter Command, 354FG also join the escort. There are no losses and no casulaties. The fighters in this element claim 5-1-4 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
FRANKFURT/ LUDWIGSHAVEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: 354th Fighter Group IX Fighter Command contributes 40 P-51s to the escort (Statistics not included in totals).
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 4
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 10
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 89
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
FRANKFURT/ LUDWIGSHAVEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
![Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Zombie" at Martlesham Heath air base. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'ZOMBIE yellow, black outline. [illegible text] black white common practice of 361st FS.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377162.jpg.webp?itok=Cj8CR9kY)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 4
- People evaded: 4
- Prisoners of war: 1
- People interned: 1
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 32
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 9
- Aircraft sent: 503
- Aircraft missing in action: 9
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 1
Ludwigshafen, Germany
Description: BOMBER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Notes: 40 P-51s from IX Fighter Command escort heavy bombers to and from Ludwigshaven, Germany
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 5
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 4
- Aircraft sent: 40
- Aircraft effective: 40
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15195598 / O-681970
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19097415 / O-675670
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19074514 and T-122260
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added Mission Event for IX Fighter Command P-51 despatch per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
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'.