VIII Fighter Command FO-162 BOMBER ESCORT
18 October 1943MACR 1050
Description
This mission was composed of two fighter elements. The first element was a force of 33 P-38s from 55FG despatched to accompany bomber formations headed for Duren, Germany. Weather conditions prevented rendevous with the bomber stream and both the fighters and the vombers were recalled. 1 P-38 Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA. There were no claims on enemy aircraft.
The second element was a combined force of 296 P-47s from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, 355FG and 356FG despatched to escort the B-17 formations headed for Duren, Germany. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA 1RTD (rescued by ASR). The fighters in this force claim 1-0-0 of German fighters.
Mission Details
DUREN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 33
- Aircraft effective: 1
DUREN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Figther escort for Duren mission, recalled when weather prevented rendezvous.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
- People killed in action: 1
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 296
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740169
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18103796 at enlistment, then O-672641
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 84th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-799637
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Shoot Luke
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 7-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.