8th Air Force FO 276 BOMBER ESCORT

21 March 1944

Description

A force of 48 P-47s from 78FG are despathed to escort heavy bomber attacking V-Weapon sites at Watten, France. There are no losses, casualties or claims.

Mission Details

WATTEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: No fighter claims on enemy aircraft.

From left to right: Captain Walker L. Boone, Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez and Flight Officer Gerry E. Brasher, pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, sit on the bonnet of a jeep at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - the "Guardian Angels" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Pho

78th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

Aircraft sent: 48

Connections

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

People

William Cecil Hawkins

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
Service Numbers: 14097785 / O-813153
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

43-6316

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date1 Mar 2016 20:26:57

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:14

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'.