24 October 1943
Major Eugene P. Roberts, a pilot of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, with Captain Charles P. London and war correspondent William Randolph Hearst Jr. at Duxford. 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. Photo shows:- "This is how we did it", says Major Eugene ROBERTS, of Spokane, Washington, (on the right). He has just returned from a mission over Germany and goes over a combat tactic with Mr. Hearst, and (left) Captain Charles P. LONDON, Long Beach, California. They are indulging in a little by-plays while drinking coffee to warm up after a chilly flight in weather approaching sixty below. The major, tied for aerial 'Ace' honors in the E.T.O. with eight Jerries destroyed, flies in a Thunderbolt P-47 group with Captain London, who was the first "Ace" of this Theatre with five destroyed. U.S. Pool/SG/H. Keystone 60.'
War correspondent William Randolph Hearst Jr enjoys coffee and donuts with Captain Charles P. London and Major Eugene P. Roberts of the 78th Fighter Group during a visit to Duxford. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption attached to the 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.' Photo shows:- ""Don't burn your lips, there, Charlie, says Mr.Hearst as Major Gene Roberts waits to see whether he'll venture a sip or not. The two ""Aces"" have just returned minutes ago from their mission over Germany and are enjopying a bit of coffee through the courtesy of the American Red Cross. The two veteran Thunderbolt fighter pilots fly from a base ""somewhere in England"", and between them have accounted for 15 German planes. U.S. POOL/SG/H Keystone 75.' '290470' [censor no]. ' Passed for publication 28 October 1943' [stamp]."
Not yet known
This missionis composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 48 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort for a formation of B-26 bombers from 9th Air Force. There are no losses or claims.
The second element is a combined force of 205 P-47s from 55FG; 78FG; 353FG; and 356FG despatched to provide escort for a formation of B-26 bombers from 9th Air Force. 1 aircraft is damaged. This element claims 1-1-0 of attacking German fighters.
FIGHTER ESCORT
P-38 Lightning
Not yet known
Group
The 55th Fighter Group were the first P-38 Lightning Group to go fully operational from England. The pilots flew long-range escort missions for bombers flying over occupied Europe and racked up 'kills' of their own by destroying enemy aircraft in...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 48 |
FIGHTER ESCORT
P-47 Thunderbolt
Fighters escort 9th Air Force B-26s on a raid on Germany airfields at Montdidier, Beauvais and Saint-Andre-de-L'Eure, France. One locomotive was claimed in a strafing attack.
Group
The 353rd Fighter Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 June 1943. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts, and from October 1944, P-51 Mustangs, as escorts for bombing missions across occupied Europe and to strafe targets on the ground. Tactical...
Group
The 356th Fighter Group flew 413 missions between 15 October 1943 and 7 May 1945 and suffered the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of any Eighth Air Force Group. This gave the Group the reputation of being the 'hard luck' outfit. The...
Group
Flying P-47 Thunderbolts throughout their time stationed in England, the Group, known as "the Wolfpack", had more ace pilots than any other Eighth Air Force Fighter Group. The 56th Fighter Group also destroyed more enemy aircraft in air combat than any...
Group
The 78th Fighter Group was initially based at Goxhill but moved to Duxford in April 1943 and stayed there until October 1945. The 78th FG flew each of the three US built principal fighters of the AAF in the ETO. In their Thundetbolts, the 78th FG ...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 205 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 1 |
Military | First Lieutenant | 353rd Fighter Group
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 07 July 2015 21:49:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to name and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 12:07:13 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:20 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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'. |
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