8th Air Force FO 259 BOMBER ESCORT

3 March 1944

Description

A combined fighter force of 730 aircraft of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despached to escort the heavy bombers despatched to bomb the primary targets of Berlin, Erkner and Oraneinburg, Germany. The P-38 elements were the first American aircraft to fly over Berlin. Mission Summary follows:



A combined force of 89 P-38s are despatched from: 20FG; 55FG and 364FG. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash attributed to Pilot Error - 1RTD. There were no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.



A combined force of 484 P-47s are despatcheed. 8th Air Force: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. These are joind by IX Fighter Command: 358FG and 362FG. 1 aircraft sustains a malfunction and is Damaged Beyond Repais in a crash. pilot bales out - 1RTD. 1 airmen in a returning aircraft is WIA. 13 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties of claims in this element.



A combined force of 130 P-51s is despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG and 357FG These are joined by fighterss from IX Fighter Command: 345FG and 363FG. 5 aircraft from 8th AF Failed to Return (FTR) - 2KIA 2POW 1RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft from IX Fighter Command 354FG Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. The fighters in this element claim 8-1-3 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses, casulaties or claims in this element.

Mission Details

WILHELMSHAVEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: The P-38s flew over Berlin, the first aircraft of 8th Air Force to do so.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 89
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

WILHELMSHAVEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group and 362nd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute an undetermined number of P-47s to the escort and these are included in the number sent, but losses and claims shown in the table are only those of 8th Air Force Fighter Groups. 354th Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) had one Missing in Action (MIA) (not included in table). One 362nd Fighter Group (IX Fighter Command) P-47 crash-landed at its base, aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) (no included in table).

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 484
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

WILHELMSHAVEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 354th Fighter Group and 363rd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute and undetermined number of P-51s to the escort and these are included in the number despatched.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 8
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 130
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6

Connections

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

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of P-51 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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'.