8th Air Force FO 260 BOMBER ESCORT

4 March 1944

Description

A combined force of 770 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to heavy bombers attacking at Berlin. The weather is terrible and many of the bomber formations either abort of seek Targets of Opportunity in the Ruhr valley. The P-38 groups are assigend to escort the bombers all the way to Berlin and back. Mission summary follows:



A combined force of 86 P-38s from 20FG; 55FG; and 364FG are despatched to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back. On the penetration leg 2 fighters of 20FG have engine failures and the group leader assigned 2LT Joe Ford to provide escort for these two as the turned back. This was 2LT Ford's first combat opertion. This group of three were attacked by 6 FW-190 near the Dutch coast. 2LT Ford warned the two limping P-38s to take cover in the clouds while he made a head-on pass at the German flight leader. The German dived awaybefore Ford could shoot him down and when the engagement broke off, the Germans were nowhere to be found. 2LT Ford, short on fuel was able to get a bearing from Air Sea Rescue and he managed to shepherd the two damaged P-38s to safe landings in England. He also landed safely with barely any petrol left in his tanks. 2LT Ford was awarded the Disntinguished Flying Cross for his actions that day. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 2KIA 1POW 1EVD. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash on take off 1KIA. Another battle damaged aircraft was DBR in a crash landing upon return - 1RTD. 1 other aircraft was damaged. There were no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.



A combined force of 563 P-47s were despatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG (2 Squadrons); 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG; and 361FG. These were joined by IX Fighter Command: 358FG; 362FG; and 365FG. 362FG and 365FG flew two missions, one on penetration and one on witdrawl. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 2KIA 1POW. (Freeman reports 2 FTRs from 78FG but only one could be confirmed from MACRs). 1 aircraft with battle damage was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash landing upon return - 1RTD. 5 aircraft are damaged. The fighters of this element claim 3-1-3 of attacking German aircraft and 1-0-0 on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



A combined force of 121 P-51a are despatched: 8th Air Force: 4FG (1 squadron) and 357FG. These are joined by IX Fighter Command: 354FG and 363FG. 363FG depatched 33 P-51s but bad weather caused the formations to break up along the Dutch coast resulting in the loss of 11 aircraft. A total of 16 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 3 of these were from 8th Air Force (4FG - 2 and 357FG - 1) - 3POW. The other 13 were from IX Fighter Command: (354FG -2) - 2KIA and (363FG - 11) - 11KIA. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash upon return - 1KIA and 1 aircraft was damaged. The fighters is this element claim 5-2-1 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

BERLIN - BONN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: P-38s go all the way to Berlin and back with the bombers.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 3
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 86
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2

BERLIN - BONN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 358th Fighter Group, 362nd Fighter Group and 365th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contribute and undetermined number of P-47s to the escort, which are included in the number despatched. The 362nd Fighter Group and 356th Fighter Group flew two missions each. 4th Fighter Group despatched two squadrons of P-47s. The fighters claim 3-1-3 of attacking German aircraft and 1-0-0 on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 563
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

BERLIN - BONN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: 4th Fighter Group despatched one squadron of P-51s (16). 354th Fighter Group and 363rd Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributed an undetermined number of P-51s to the escort, number included in total despatched. The 363rd Fighter Group despatched 33 aircraft but bad weather scattered the formations at the Dutch coast with 11 P-51s reported Missing in Action (MIA)

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 13
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 5
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 121
  • Aircraft missing in action: 16
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

Connections

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-746031
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885485
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "Losses of ther 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units and added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element atatistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 9th & 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'.