8th Air Force FO 273 BOMBER ESCORT

18 March 1944

Description

A combined force of 925 fighters of types: P-38; P-47; and P-51 are despatched to escort heavy bombers attacking at Friedrickshafen, Oberpfaffenhofen and Munich, Germany. Despatch summary follows:



A combined force of 113 P-38s from: 20FG; 55FG and 364FG are despatched. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 3KIA 1POW 1RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash upon take off - 1RTD. The fighters in this element claim 11-2-1 of attacking German aircraft.



A combined force of 598 fighters from: 8th Air Force: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 356FG; 359FG; 361FG are despatched. These are joined by IX Fighter Command 358FG and 362FG. 8th Air Force 352FG; 358FG; 361FG and IX Fighter Command 363FG fly two missions each, one on penetration and one on withdrawl. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 2POW. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in an explosion just after take off. Pilot baled out - 1RTD. 6 aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 2-1-3 of attacking German aircraft in the air and 3-2-2 on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.



A combined force of 214 P-51s from: 8th Air Force: 4FG; 355FG and 357FG. These are joiind by IX Fighter Command: 345FG and 363FG. 4 aircraft from 8th AF units Failed to Return (FTR) - 3KIA 1POW; and 2 aircraft from IX FC units Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW 1EVD. 3 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR), 1 with battle damage in a crash landing upon return and 2 others in crashes just after take off - 3RTD. The fighters in this element claim 26-2-6 of attacking German aircraft. 1 airman in returning aircraft is WIA. There are not other losses, casualties or claims in this element.

Mission Details

OBERPFAFFENHOFEN /FREDRICHSHAFEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 2
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 11
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 113
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

OBERPFAFFENHOFEN /FREDRICHSHAFEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group and 362nd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute an undetermined number of P-47s to the escort, number included in the total despatched. 78th Fighter Group despatches three formations for the first time. 352nd Fighter Group, 359th Fighter Group, 361 Fighter Group fly two missions each one inbound and one outbound. Claims on enemy aircraft include 3-2-2 on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • Prisoners of war: 2
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 5
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 598
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

OBERPFAFFENHOFEN /FREDRICHSHAFEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group and 363rd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributes an undetermined number of P-51s to the escort, number included in the total despatched. 363rd Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) flies two missions, one inbound and one outbound.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 3
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 2
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 26
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 6
  • Aircraft sent: 214
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

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: 354th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11039760 at enlistment, then O-807616
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenant Konstantin H of the 357th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (G4-O, serial number 43-6923) nicknamed "Sweet Helen". Written on slide casing: 'Konstantin Vogel with Mace's P-51.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-745553
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Feb-2016. Added IX FC units and claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Feb-2016. Correcting typos in Description.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Feb-2016. Added IX FC units and claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Feb-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.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Removed incorrectly associated media

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.

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'.