VIII Fighter Command FO-126 BOMBER ESCORT

7 September 1943

Description

A combined force of 178 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to escort the B-17 and B-24 formations attacking at Brussels, Belgium and Bergen, Holland. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-1KIA 1POW and 1 ran out of gas on return and crashed at Westleton, Suffolk, UK.- 1RTD; 1 aircraft was damaged.

Mission Details

BRUSSELS / BERGEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for first and second elements only.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 178
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

Connections

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

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

Aubrey Charles Stanhope

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885212
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

41-6207

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Mark I
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
Glenn E. Duncan, on the left, and John B. Rose Jr. of the 353rd Fighter Group, stand beside the group's de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth, which Duncan had just crash-landed into the field. 1943-1944.

41-6585

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 351st Fighter Squadron

42-7905

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Jun-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'.