VIII Fighter Command FO 234 BOMBER ESCORT
4 February 1944Description
A combined force of 637 fighter aircraft are despatched to provide escort to the heavy bombers attacking at and around Frankfurt, Germany. Mission summary follows:
A combined force 56 P-38s from: 20FG & 55FG are despatched. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA. 5 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses or claims.
A combined force of 537 P-47s are despatched this included 48 aircraft from IX Fighter Command 358FG the remaining 489 are from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356F; 359FG; and 361FG. No aircraft are lost to enemy action. 1 aircraft with battle damage makes a crash landing near Manston, UK, pilot is OK - 1RTD. 4 other aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 8-0-4 of attacking German aircraft.
44 P-51s from IX Fighter Command 354FG join in the escort. There are no casualties, aircraft losses or claims in this element.
Mission Details
FRANKFURT
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 56
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 5
FRANKFURT
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: 48 P-47s of 358th Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) and 44 P-51s of 354th Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) join the escort (statistics not included in table). 637 fighters total
- 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 returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 4
- Aircraft sent: 489
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 4
Frankfurt, Germany
Description: 48 P-47s from IX Fighter Command 358FG are despatched to support the bomber escort. No losses or claims in this element.
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 48
- Aircraft effective: 48
Frankfurt, Germany
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 44
- Aircraft effective: 44
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added New Mission event for P-51s from IX Fighter Command per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added New Mission event for P-47s from IX Fighter Command per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to the P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Corrected statistics on P-38 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freman.
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'.