8th Air Force FO 269 BOMBER ESCORT
15 March 1944Description
A combined force of 588 fighters of types: P-38 and P-47 are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking at Brunswick, Germany. No P-51 units are despatched because all P-51s have been grounded to make modifications to their VHF radio equipment. Despatch details follow:
A combined force ot 121 P-38s from: 20FG; 55FG; and 364FG are despatched. 4 aircraft Failed to Return - 1KIA 3POW. 1 aircraft with battle damage is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash landing upon return - 1RTD. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 467 P-47s are despatched. 8th Air Force: 55FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 359FG and 361FG. These are joined by IX Fighter Command: 358FG and 362FG. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. 5 aircraft are damaged. The fighters claim 39-3-13 of attacking German aircraft and 1-0-0 on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
Mission Details
Brunswick
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- 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
- Prisoners of war: 3
- People returned to duty: 1
- Aircraft sent: 125
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Brunswick
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-47 to the escort, number included in the total despatched.
- 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
- Prisoners of war: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 40
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 13
- Aircraft sent: 467
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 5
Description: ERRONEOUS
Notes:
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Made connections to IX FC units in P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Lasr mission event was erroneuous but I couldn't remove it.
Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-44. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty EIghth Air Force", Roger A> Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-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.
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'.