VIII Fighter Command FO-180 BOMBER ESCORT
13 November 1943Description
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.
- 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 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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-743342
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-672633
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740289
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746211
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740298
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Speed / Lil Jo
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group Headquarters (355th Fighter Group)
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Nuisance
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
Revisions
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.
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.
Lee Cunningham 10-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'.