8th Air Force FO 262 BOMBER ESCORT

6 March 1944

Description

A combined figther force of 801 figthers of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort for heavy bombers attacking at Berlin, Germany. Mission Summary follows:



A combined force of 86 P-38s from: 20FG; 55FG; and 354FG are despatched. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA. The fighters in this element claim 3-0-1 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.



A combined force of 615 P-47s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. These are joined by IX Fighter Command: 356FG; 362FG; and 365FG. 4 aircraft from 8th AF Failed to Return (FTR) - 3KIA 1POW; 1 aircraft from IX FC 362FG Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. 3 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crashes upon return - 1 Died of Injuries (DOI) 2RTD. 4 other aircraft are damaged. 2 airmen in returning aircraft were WIA. The fighters in this element claim 36-7-12 of attacking German aircraft and 1-0-12 on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



A combined force of 100 P-51s is despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG and 357FG. These are joined by otherf from IX Figher Command: 354FG. 4 aircraft from 8th AF Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 3POW. 1 aircraft from IX FC 354FG Failed to Return (FTR) -1 POW. The fighters in this element claim 43-1-20 of attacking German aircraft. 2 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.

Mission Details

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: P-38s of the 55th Fighter Group turned back because too many had engine problems.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 86
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group, 362nd Fighter Group and 365th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributed an undetermined number of P-47s to the escort, number in included in total despatch. 1 airman injured in a crash upon return died of his injuries the next day. The loss included in KIA total. Claims on enemy aircraft include 1-0-12 on the ground. 359th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Group and 362nd Fighter Group each flew two missions.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 2
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 97
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 37
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 7
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 24
  • Aircraft sent: 615
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 4

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributes an undetermined number of P-51s to the escort, number included in total number despatched. All fighter totals combined 8th Air Force and IX Fighter Command.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 4
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 40
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 20
  • Aircraft sent: 100
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5

Connections

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

People

Grant Marion Turley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 82nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-799276
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-7998

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Kitty
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham19-Feb-2016. Added statment to Event Notes of P-47 element to include units that flew 2 missions per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2016. Made connection to IX FC 354FG, corrected statistics to include IX FC numbers and added claims on enemy fighters to P-51 element per "The Mighty Eighth Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units; corrected statistics and added claims on enmey aircraft to statistics of P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of P-38 element per "The Mighty EIghth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman. and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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'.