8th Air Force FO 250 BOMBER ESCORT
24 February 1944Description
A combined force of 767 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort to the heavy bombers attacking the German aircraft industries at Gotha, Germany and the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany as part of Day 5 of BIG WEEK. Mission Summary follows:
A combined force of 70 P-38s from 20FG & 55FG are despatched. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) -3KIA 1POW. The fighters of this element claim 1-0-0 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties
A combined force of 609 P-47s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359BG; and 361FG. IX Fighter Command: 362FG and 365FG alos participate. 4 8th Air Force aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA. 11 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning fighter is MIA. The fighters of this element claim 31-0-13 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
A combinedd force of 88 P-51s from 357FG and IX Fighter Command 354FG and 363FG participate. 2 aircraft from 357FG Failed to Return (FTR) - 2POW. The fighters in this element claim 6-1-1 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
Mission Details
GOTHA/SCWEINFURT
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: 70 P-38s dispatched from all 8th Air Force Fighter Command Groups
- 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: 3
- Prisoners of war: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 70
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
GOTHA/SCWEINFURT
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: The 359GF and 365 Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) flew two missions for this operation, one as escort going in and one as cover coming out. Split of aircraft for 8th Air Force Fighter Groups and 9th Air Force Fighter Groups not possible from available data, so the statistics are combined together.
- 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
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 4
- People wounded in action: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 31
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 13
- Aircraft sent: 609
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 11
GOTHA/SCWEINFURT
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Notes: 354th Fighter Group and 363rd Fighter Group form IX Fighter Command contribute P-51s to escort. They score one kill one enemy aircraft. No losses.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 6
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 88
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
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: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15086641 / O-726627
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on emeny aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "the Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on enemy fighters to statistics of P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.