8th Air Force FO 255 BOMBER ESCORT

29 February 1944

Description

A combined force of 554 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despacthed to provide fighter escort for heavy bombers attacking at Brunswick, Germany. The 357FG begins its transition from P-47s to P-51s. Mission Summary follows:



A combined force of 61 P-38s from 20FG & 55FG are despatched. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 1POW. 1 aircraft is damaged. There are no other losses, claims or casualties in this element.



A combined force of 346 P-47s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 56FG; 352FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. IX Fighter Command 358FG and 361FG also join the escort. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. 1 aircraft is damaged. The fighters in this element claim 1-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.



A combined force of 147 P-51s is despatched. 8th Air Force 4FG and 357FG. IX Fighter Command 345FG and 363FG also join the escort. 1 IX FC aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. There are no other losses, claims or casualties.

Mission Details

Brunswick

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: The pilot of one of the Missing in Action (MIA) P-38s from 20th Fighter Group was actually assigned to the 364th Fighter Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
  • People killed in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 61
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Brunswick

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group and 362nd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute P-47s for escort. VIII Fighter Command and IX Fighter Command despatch bundled. Losses are those of VIII Fighter Command.

Mission Statistics

  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 346
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Brunswick

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group and 363th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute P-51s for escort. 8th Air Force and IX Fighter Command despatch bundled.

Mission Statistics

  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 147
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Made connection to IX FC unit and added 1MIA AC and 1 POW to statistics of P-51 element per "Losses of the 8thy & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narratvie based on "The Mighty EIghth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Moved pins from Brunswick, US to Braunschweig, Germany

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'.