8th Air Force 289 & FO 288 FIGHTER STRAFING
5 April 1944Description
A combined force of 456 fighters of types: P-38, P-47 and P-51 are despacthed to carry out strafing attacks on airfields in Germany. All units are 8th Air Force units. 11 airfields are attacked with excellent results. Despatch summary follows:
A combined force of 96 P-38s from: 20FG and 364FG are despatched. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. 4 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 236 P-47 from: 56FG; 68FG; 352FG (flew mixed formation of P-47s and P-51s); 353FG; 356FG; and 361FG. 1 Aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1POW. 4 aircraft are damaged. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-2 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 124 P-51s from: 4FG; 352FG and 355FG are despatched and have the greatest success. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 3POW. The fighters in this element claim 10-1-2 aircraft in the air and 96-4-120 on the ground. 3 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
Mission Details
Description: AIRFIELDS
Notes: 96 P-38s, 236 P-47s and 124 P-51s are despatched to attack airfields in Germany, but heavy clouds hinders most groups. 4th Fighter Group attacked 5 different enemy airfields claiming 45 aircraft, 355th Fighter Group attacked 6 enemy airfields and claimed 51 aircraft. 88-3-120 were claimed on the ground.
- 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
![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
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: NA
- People killed in action: 4
- Prisoners of war: 5
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 98
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 122
- Aircraft sent: 456
- Aircraft missing in action: 9
- Aircraft damaged: 11
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: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34463675 at enlistment, then O-886250
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885236
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 354th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19079541 at enlistment, then O-744764
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 13-Mar-2016. Added statistics for the entire despatch based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and MACRS.
Lee Cunningham 13-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narratvie based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman, "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACRS.
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'.