VIII Fighter Command FO - 23 FIGHTER SWEEPS

18 May 1943
media-17463.jpeg UPL 17463 Lt. Robert A Boock, [Springfield, IL] 334th Fighter Squadron, ex 71 "Eagle" Squadron. Photographed here with armorer Sgt. Lawrence P "Larry" Hendel, [St. Louis, MO], alongside their P-47C 41-6404 QP-S “Old Red Ass”. Lt. Boock was killed in action flying this a/c on 18 May 43 when he was shot down into the North Sea. Two of his 3 confirmed kills were gained in Spitfires.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=41-6404&Submit=S…

Object Number - UPL 17463 - Lt. Robert A Boock, [Springfield, IL] 334th Fighter Squadron, ex 71 "Eagle" Squadron. Photographed here with armorer Sgt. Lawrence P "Larry" Hendel,...

Description

A combined force of 100 P-47s are despatched on fighter sweeps of the Knokke/Blankenberge/Nieuport area. A German fighter patrol is encountered. 1 P-47 is MIA. 4th FG claims 2-0-0 on the Luftwaffe, but only 1 kill is officially credited.

Mission Details

KNOKKE / BLANKENBERGHE / NIEUWPOORT

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter sweep of Knokke/Blankenberghe/Nieuport area. One P-47 from 4th Fighter Group shot down into the sea, pilot Missing in Action (MIA).

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 100
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Connections

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

People

Robert Alfred Boock

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885186
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

4th Fighter Group personnel beside P-47 Thunderbolt "Ill Wind?" at Debden, January 1944. The pilot of the aircraft was Captain Nicholas Megura of the 334th Fighter Squadron.

41-6404

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Ill Wind? Old Red Ass
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group Base Air Depot 2 334th Fighter Squadron 389th Fighter Squadron

41-6405

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Old red ass
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Jan-2015. DEscription 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'.

VIII Fighter Command FO - 23 FIGHTER SWEEPS: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 17463 - Lt. Robert A Boock, [Springfield, IL] 334th...

Object number: UPL 17464 - Capt. Raymond C “Bud” Care, [Angola, IN]. 334th...