VIII Fighter Command FO-168 BOMBER ESCORT
3 November 1943Description
This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 45 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort, to and from the target, of B-17 bomber formations attacking at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. There are NO losses and the fighters claim 3-5-5 of attacking German fighters.
The second element is a combined force of 333 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; and 356FG despatched to provide penetration and withdrawal escort to B-17 formations attacking at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 2 airfcraft Failed to Return (FTR) 2KIA and 1 is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) after crashing shortly after take-off 1RTD. This force claims 11-0-2 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
WILHELMSHAVEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 5
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 5
- Aircraft sent: 45
WILHELMSHAVEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: A despatch of 378 fighters, with 45 P-38 providing longer range makes a real difference in heavy bomber casualties, with only 7 Missing in Action (MIA) bombers out of 566 despatched. Perhaps the remainder of 1943 will not be such a blood bath for the bomber crews.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 2
- People wounded in action: 1
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 11
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 333
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 5
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims against enemy aircraft to statistics of 333 P-47s per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims to statistics of 45 P-38s from 55FG per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.