8th Air Force Field Order 321

30 April 1944

Mission Details

LYON/CLERMONT/ SIRACOURT

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Notes: A mix of 644 fighters from 8th Air Force and 9th Air Force provide escort and also conduct dive bombing attacks: 128 P-38s, 268 - P-47s and 248 P-51s. IX Fighter Command contributes 97 of the P-51s for the escort. Calims are bundled and include 11-0-17 on the ground. Only 8th Air Force losses are shown in table. IX Fighter Command lost 1 P-51 from 363rd Fighter Group, pilot MIA

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: NA

ROMORANTIN

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 1 squadron, 8 P-47 aircraft, of 353rd Fighter Group, dive bombs the German airfield at Romorantin, France on withdrawal.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 14 X 100 GP

TOURS (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: Two P-38 Fighter Groups, the 20th Fighter Group and 55th Fighter Group, are despatched to attack the German airfield at Tours, France. 44 P-38s of 20th Fighter Group accomplish the dive bombing while 55th Fighter Group provides escort.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 35 X 1000 GP 4 X 500 GP

Connections

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Aircraft

A P-38 Lightning nicknamed "EZE Does It" of the 20th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions at Kings Cliffe. Handwritten caption on reverse: '20FG. "Droop Snoot". Bombing P-38.'

42-67450

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Eze Does It
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 10th Air Depot Group 20th Fighter Group 10th Depot Repair Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

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'.