VIII Fighter Command FO-180 BOMBER ESCORT

13 November 1943

Description

This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 45 P-38s from 55FG despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Bremen, Germany. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 4KIA 3POW. 2 are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) and 5 are damaged. This fighter element claims 7-3-5 of attacking German fighters.



The second element is composed of 345 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 325FG; 353FG; 355FG; and 356FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA 1EVD. 1 aircraft crashlanded at Bungay, UK and was declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 1RTD. The fighters in this element claim 3-0-1 of attacking German fighters.

Mission Details

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: P-38s escorted all the way to the target and back.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • People returned to duty: 2
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 7
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 45
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 5

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for raid on Bremen, Germany. Severe winds limited the range of the P-47.

Mission Statistics

  • People missing in action: 3
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 345
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 2

Connections

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

People

Charles Edward Beall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14052322 / O-659444
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
A P-47 Thunderbolt (LH-T, serial number 42-74665) nicknamed "Fatty Patty II" of the 353rd Fighter Group flown by Captain Charles W Dinse shoots down a BF 110 during a mission. Gun camera image. Printed caption on reverse: '50416 AC - Discovering an Me 110 below him, Capt. Charles W. Dinsa, 304 Touhy Ave., Park Ridge, Ill., dove down and destroyed it. The pictures were taken by his automatic camera as his bullets found their mark. Credit for the kill was shared with Lt. Richard A. Stearns, Jr., 102 Forest

Charles W Dinse

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665391
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William C Florentine

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-740151
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Lynn R Goetzman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-732225
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Thomas Harvey Hubbard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group Headquarters Squadron (355th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-380248
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Deputy Group Commander / Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

42-63988

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Birmingham Blitzkrieg
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron

42-66724

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Miss Margaret
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron

42-66727

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron

42-66732

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron

42-67049

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircaft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to p-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.