VIII Fighter Command FO-71 BOMBER ESCORT

14 July 1943

Description

A combined force of 128 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG provide escort for the Amiens/Glisy element of VIII Bomber Command Mission #73. 3 aircraft are lost: 4FG (1) - 1KIA; 78FG (2) - 1KIA 1WIA-RTD. Also, on this date a Spitfire IX, TN EM564 of 485 Squadron RNZAF flown by American airman Captain John R. Walker was shot down by enemy aircraft while supplying tope cover for the bomber stream over Evreux, France. 1KIA MACR 36.

Mission Details

AMIENS

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighters escorted the Amiens raid only. 4th Fighter Group loses one and 78th Fighter Group loses 2. One battle damaged P-47 from 78th Fighter Group abandoned, pilot rescued. One SPIT IX from 67 Recon Group, 12th Recon Squadron was also lost.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 2
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 128
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added claims on enemy aircraft to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-May-2015. Edited title and added Mission Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman; Spitfire loss from "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE and MACR 36.

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'.