VIII Fighter Command FO-145 BOMBER ESCORT

26 September 1943

Description

A combined force of 243 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to provide escort to the bombers scheduled to attack at Paris, but they are recalled when the bomber mission is cancelled. There are no losses or claims.

Mission Details

PARIS

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Recalled due to weather.

353rd Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

355th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

4th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

56th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

From left to right: Captain Walker L. Boone, Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez and Flight Officer Gerry E. Brasher, pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, sit on the bonnet of a jeep at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - the "Guardian Angels" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Pho

78th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
Aircraft sent: 243

Revisions

Date29 Jun 2015 18:08:27

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 29-Jun-2015. Added Mission Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:19

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'.