VIII Fighter Command FO-177 BOMBER ESCORT

11 November 1943

Description

This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 59 P-38 combined from 55FG and 20FG/79FS despatched to provide escort for the bomber formations attacking at Munster.



The second element was a combined force of 342 P-47s from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, and 356FG despatched to escort the bombers directed to attack at Wesel, Germany. The bomber fomarions are recalled but the fighter do engage some German fighters and claim 8-1-2 of the attacking German aircraft. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 3KIA (confirmed from MACR records). 1 aircraft returned damaged.

Mission Details

MUNSTER/WESEL

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: 20th Fighter Group/79th Fighter Squadron (P-38) accompanied 55th Fighter Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 59

MUNSTER/WESEL

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for raid on Munster and Wesel, Germany.

Mission Statistics

  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 8
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 342
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3

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
  • 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: 356th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795998
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-659325
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-743139
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
German personnel inspect a crashed P-47D Thunderbolt (UN-O, serial number 42-74722) of the 56th Fighter Group, flown by First Lieutenant O'Connor, near Goesfeld, 11 November 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/11/43. 274722. 1/Lt. O'Connor near Goesfeld.' Handwritten but crossed out on reverse: '16216, 19/8/45, Hodges'.
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Stewpot
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015, Added FTR to P-47 element. Freeman had it a 2 MIA but 3 acutally FTR based on MACR records 1439 1440 and 1450.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to the P-47 element 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'.