8th Air Force Field Order 338

13 May 1944

Mission Details

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Notes: A mix of 737 fighters from 8th Air Force provide escort: 153 P-38s, 238 P-47s and 346 P-51. IX Fighter Command also contributed a mix of 370 fighters, P-38s, P-47s and P-51s (not included in table). These IX Fighter Command fighters also contributed claims 11-1-3 German fighters in the air and another 15-0-27 on the ground (included in total). These IX Fighter Command Fighter Groups had 4 losses (not identified in source data). This is the first time more than 1000 fighters (1,107) are used for escort. Also, this is the deepest penetration of fighters to date 1, 470 miles to Poznan, Poland and back. This was truly a bad day for the Luftwaffe.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: NA

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 328th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-758764
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693852
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

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'.