8th Air Force FO 283 BOMBER ESCORT

28 March 1944

Description

A combined force of 453 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51, all from 8th Air Force units, are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking at Ijmuiden, Holland and at German airfield in France. A combined force of 46 P-38 from 20FG are despatched. There are no losses, casualties or claims in this element.



A combined force of 284 P-47s from: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 359FG and 361FG are despatched. There are no losses, damaged aircraft or casualties. The fighters in this element claim 0-0-1 of attacking German aircraft.



A combined force of 123 P-51s from: 4FG; 355FG and 357FG are despatched. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 1POW 1EVD. The fighters in this element make strafing attacks on German airfields in France and claim 30-1-33 of German aircraft on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



Mission Details

DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 46

DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force.

Mission Statistics

  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 284

DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force. 355th Fighter Group strafed Dijon/Longvic German Airfield after the bomb attack.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 30
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 33
  • Aircraft sent: 123
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Lynn Howard Drollinger

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19096880 at enlistment, then O-749531
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

43-6729

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Young Uns
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Restoring Mission Narrative.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Moving description to FO248.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added P-47 (Watten) element tot Mission Narrative based on the "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission Summary 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'.