8th Air Force FO 277 BOMBER ESCORT

22 March 1944

Description

A combined force of 540 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to escort heave bombers attacking ad Berlin and surrounding areas. 275 of these aircraft are contributed by IX Fighter Command units. Despatch summary follows:



A combined force of 125 P-38s from: 20FG; 55FG and 364FG are despatched. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 2POW. 7 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



A combined force of 496 P-47s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. These are joined by IX Fighter Command: 358FG and 368FG. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR), all in 8th Air Force units - 4 KIA 1 POW. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash on take off - 1 RTD. 9 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returing aircraft is WIA. The fighters in this element claim 1-0-0 of German aircraft on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



A combined force of 196 P-51s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG; 355FG and 357FG. These are joined by IX Fighter Command: 354FG and 363FG. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIKA 3POW. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash landing upoin return - 1RTD. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.

Mission Details

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 2
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 125
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group, 362nd Fighter Group and 368Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute and undetermined number of P-47s to the escort, number included in total despatched. Claims ar 1-0-0 of German aircraft on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 496
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

BERLIN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group and 363rd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute an undetermined number of P-51s to the escort, number is included in total despatched.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 196
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4
  • 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: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19110359 at enlistment, then O-682657
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added statistics to P-51 element 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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Made connection to IX FC units and added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and MACRS.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-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
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'.