VIII Fighter Command FO 215

7 January 1944

Description

A combined fighter force of 571 aircraft are despatched to provide escort for the bombers attacking at Ludwigshaven, Germany. Three elements of fighters are despatched.

The first element is a combined force of 71 P-38s despatched from: 20FG and 55FG. 1 aircraft Fails to Return (FTR) 1POW. None of the rest of the element are damaged and there are no other casualties. The fighters of the element claim 1-0-2 of attacking German fighters.

The second element is a combined force of 463 P-47s despatched from : 4FG; 56FG, 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 358FG and 359FG. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 5KIA. 1 aircraft is damaged. There are no other casualties in this element. The fighters of this element claim 6-0-1 of attacking German fighters.

The third element is a force of 354 P-51s from IX Fighter Command. There are no losses or claims in this fighter element.

Mission Details

LUDWIGSHAVEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: These aircraft for 20FG and 55FG escort the bomber stream all the way to the target and back. They are also combind with 37 P-51s from IX Fighter Command.

Mission Statistics

  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 71
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

LUDWIGSHAVEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: This is a large despatch of 463 P-47s that provide penetration and withdrawal support to the bomber stream attacking Ludwigshaven. Fuel capacity prevents them from escorting all the way to the target and back.

The insignia of the 358th Fighter Group.

358th Fighter Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 463
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5

Ludwigshafen, Germany

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 37 P-51s are despatched from 354FG of IX Fighter Command to assist 8th Air Force fighter units in escorting the bomber stream to and from Ludwigshaven, Germany.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 37
  • Aircraft effective: 37

Connections

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

People

Corlys Albert Bedford

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15096685 at enlistment, then O-671488
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: 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

Jesse W Gonnam

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665552
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Lance Albin Pousette

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12053476 at enlistment, then O-793530
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Donald Avery Younglas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16012304 at enlistment, then O-417813
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

42-74678

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron

42-75064

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date6 Jan 2016 19:24:42
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Added Mission Event covering despatch of P-51 fighters from 354FG of IX Fighter Command based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date6 Jan 2016 19:19:36
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Added Note to P-47 element based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date6 Jan 2016 19:16:03
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Corrected note to P-38 element per "The Mighty Eight War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.

Date6 Jan 2016 19:11:36
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Edited mission title and added mission description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:20
ContributorAAM
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'.