VIII Fighter Command FO-172 BOMBER ESCORT

7 November 1943

Description

A combined force of 283 P-47s from 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 356FG are despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Wesel and Duren, Germany. The 78FG flew the first double-group mission composed of two formations 'A' and 'B. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1EVD but none were as the direct result of fighter or anti-aircraft attacks. The fighters claim 1-0-0 of attacking German fighters.



NOTE: Roger A. Freeman iin "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" had the 355FG as associated with this mission. However, MACR research of 355FG losses on this date indicated that they flew VIII FC FO-173 escorting B-26 bombers of 9th Air Force attacking German airfields at Montdidier and Meulan, France. Since both operations were flown on the same date might have been the cause of the statistics being confused - Lee Cunningham.

Mission Details

WESEL/DUREN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for raid on Wesel and Duren, Germany. The 78th Fighter Group flew the first double-group missions with 'A' and 'B' formations.

Mission Statistics

  • People evaded: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 283
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

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: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34338496
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665391
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-000989
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Correcting People associations.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015 Adding Edwin Carlson to People associations based on MACR 1280.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Corrected Description and added NOTE to Description based on analysis of MACRs associated with 355FG losses on this date. Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eight War Diary" is in error in assigning 355FG to this operation. 355FG DID fly VIII FC FO-173 on the same date, and perhaps that was where the statistics got confused.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Corrected statistics based on research of MACRs associated with losses of 355FG. Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" erroneously lumped the 355FG in with other P-47 Groups assigned on VIII FC FO-172.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Corrected mission statistics from 2KIA to 1KIA 1EVD per E&E Report 340 (NARA).

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-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'.