8th Air Force FO 247 BOMBER ESCORT
22 February 1944Description
A combined force of 659 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are desdpatched to provide escort to the heavy bomber attacking the GErman aircraft industry on Day of of BIG WEEK. Mission Summary follows:
A combined force of 47 P-38s from: 20FG & 55FG are despatched. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) when the pilot attempted to land with only one engine running, came in too fast and buckeld landing gear -1RTD. Pilot error. 6 aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 1-0-0 of attacking German fighters. There are no pther losses or casualties.
A combined force of 535 P-47s are depatched. 8th Air Force: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; 356FG; 3659FG; and 361FG. IX Fighter Command: 358FG; 362FG and 368FG join in the escort. 7 aircraft from 8th Air Force Failed to Return (FTR) - 5KIA 2RTD 1 aircraft from IX Fighter Command Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA. 12 aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 39-6-15 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
A combined force of 57 P-51s are despatched. 8th Air Force 357FG and IX Fighter Command 354FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 1POW. 3 aircraft are damaged. The fighters of this element claim 19-1-10 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
Mission Details
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: All P-38s despatched are from VIII Fighter Command.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 67
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: 358th Fighter Group, 362nd Fighter Group, 368th Fighter Group of IX Fighter Command contribute P-47s to escort (number not determined from source data, included in total despatched). IX Fighter Command has one aircraft Missing in Action (MIA). One of the missing P-47 (serial number 42-75226) from 353th Fighter Group was being flown by the leading ace in the ETO, Major Walter Beckham.
- 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
![Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Zombie" at Martlesham Heath air base. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'ZOMBIE yellow, black outline. [illegible text] black white common practice of 361st FS.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377162.jpg.webp?itok=Cj8CR9kY)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 6
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 39
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 15
- Aircraft sent: 537
- Aircraft missing in action: 8
- Aircraft damaged: 12
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Notes: 354th Fighter Group from IX Fighter Command contributes P-51s to escort (number not determined from source data, included in total despatched). IX Fighter Command has one aircraft Missing in Action (MIA) (not included in total)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 19
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 10
- Aircraft sent: 57
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 3
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: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19097415 / O-675670
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Feb-2016. Made connections of IX FC units and added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & Jophn A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 10-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman; losses confirmed from MACRS and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
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'.