VIII Fighter Command FO-125 BOMBER ESCORT

6 September 1943

Description

A combined force of 176 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG were despatched to escort the B-17s attacking at Stuttgart, Germany. The bomber groups get separated and disorganised making fighter coverage nearly impossible. One P-47 Failed to Return (FTR)-1KIA. The fighters only claim 1 enemy aircraft.

Mission Details

STUTTGART

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for mission to Stuttgart. 353rd Fighter Group loses one Missing in Action (MIA), pilot Missing in Action (MIA).

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 176
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Connections

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People

A P-47 Thunderbolt (LH-T, serial number 42-74665) nicknamed "Fatty Patty II" of the 353rd Fighter Group flown by Captain Charles W Dinse shoots down a BF 110 during a mission. Gun camera image. Printed caption on reverse: '50416 AC - Discovering an Me 110 below him, Capt. Charles W. Dinsa, 304 Touhy Ave., Park Ridge, Ill., dove down and destroyed it. The pictures were taken by his automatic camera as his bullets found their mark. Credit for the kill was shared with Lt. Richard A. Stearns, Jr., 102 Forest

Charles W Dinse

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665391
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Earl W Perry

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-186020
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-7901

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.