VIII Fighter Command FO-204 BOMBER ESCORT
20 December 1943Description
This mission is a combined force of 491 fighter aircraft despatched to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. NOTE: Fighter claims of 16-3-6 on enemy aircraft were not allocated in source data, so they have been bundled with P-47 statistics. The force is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 26 P-38s from 55FG. There are no other casualties in this element.
The second element is a force of 418 P-47s from: 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, 356FG, 358FG and 359FG. This is the first combat mission for 358FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 2KIA. 1 airman in a returing aircraft was Wounded in Action (WIA). 2 battle damaged aircraft make crash landings upon return and the aircraft are declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR), but pilots are OK 2RTD. 5 aircraft are damaged.
The third element is a force of 47 P-51s from 354FG (9th Air Force) operating under VIII Fighter Command control. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 3KIA.
Mission Details
BREMEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 26
BREMEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Escort for bombers on Bremen raid. 354th Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) despatches 47 P-51s, 4 were Missing in Action (MIA). (Statistics not included in totals). One P-47 from 356th Fighter Group collided with a B-24, both aircraft lost.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- 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: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 19
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 6
- Aircraft sent: 418
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 5
Bremen, Germany
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 3
- Aircraft sent: 47
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added Mission Detail for 354FG (9th AIr Force) participation based on "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims (bundled) to P-47 element statistics per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-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'.