Official description
Not yet known
Description
4ht Fighter Group despatches 69 Spitfires to provide bomber escort. The escort is provided to the attacking force of VIII Bomber Command Mission 29 attacking Lille, France; and to two RAF bomber formations attacking targets at St. Omer, France. Exact dispositions to these three elements has not yer been determined. This is the first instance where 8AF fighters have been specifically to escort an 8AF heavy bomb mission. 1 Spitfire is forced down at Tangmere with Category B damage (it was repaired).
Also, 4th Fighter Group despatches 2 Spitfires on a fighter patrol along the English Coast.
Mission details
1. ENGLISH COAST
Description
DEFENSIVE PATROL
Aircraft type
Spitfire
Notes
Defensive patrol of English Coast.
Units
-
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
2 |
2. SAINT OMER
Description
FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft type
Spitfire
Notes
Spitfires are despatched to escort the 8th Air Force bombers as well as two raids by RAF Bostons against St. Omer. One Spitfire is listed as Missing in Action (MIA) but it was actually forced down by engine failure at Tangmere in England. This is the first time that fighters have been specifically used to escort 8th Air Force bombers.
Units
-
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
69 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
1 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Fighter Command |
3 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Fighter Command |
4 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
5 |
Service
People
-
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
On 23 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24580 'Hell Cat', 303BG/358BS while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was downed by fighters near Brest. He was able to parachute to safety and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW). Participated in 7 Operations -...