VIII Fighter Command FO 235 BOMBER ESCORT
5 February 1944Description
A combined force of 634 fighter aircraft of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51s are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking German airfields in France. Summary follows:
A combined force of 92 P-38s from: 20FG & 55FG are despatched. No aircraft are lost to enemy action but 2 are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR), one in a chrash landing upon return and one in a crash on take off - 2 RTD. 1 other aircraft is damaged. There are no other losses or casualties. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.
A combined force of 496 P-47s are despatched. 48 of these are furnished by IX Fighter Command 358FG, the remaining 544 are from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 353FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. 2 aircraft from VIII Fighter Command Failed to Return (FTR) - 2 KIA. 2 other aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings upon return - 2RTD. 1 other aircraft is damaged. There are no other losses or casualties. The fighters of this element claim 4-0-3 of attacking German aircraft.
46 P-51s from IX Fighter Command 354FG join the escort. There are no losses, casualties or damaged aircraft. The fighters of this element claim 0-0-1 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
CHATEAUROUX
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Mission Statistics
- People returned to duty: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 92
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
CHATEAUROUX
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: The IX Fighter Command contributes 48 P-47s from 358th Fighter Group and 46 P-51s from 354th Fighter Group (statistics not included in totals).
- 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 returned to duty: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 3
- Aircraft sent: 448
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 1
Châteauroux, France
Description: 48 P-47s from IX Fighter Command join the escort.
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 48
- Aircraft effective: 48
Châteauroux, France
Description: 46 P-51s from IX Fighter Command 354FG join the escort
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 46
- Aircraft effective: 46
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added connection to IX FC 358FG per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added New Mission event for P-51 despatch by IX FC 354FG element statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added New Mission event for P-47 despatch by IX FC 358FG element statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to VIII FC P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission Description per "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'.