8th Air Force Field Order 291

8 April 1944

Mission Details

BRUNSWICK / OLDENBURG / QUAKENBRUCK

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Notes: A mix of 136 P-38s, 438 P-47s and 206 P-51s provide escort, IX Fighter Command contributes 175 aircraft of this total under 8th Air Force control. 352nd Fighter Group flew a mix of P-47s and P-51s on penetration and withdrawal. 20th Fighter Group was unable to take off for escort but was despatched on a lone strafing mission later in the day. Claims included 49-6-38 on the ground. The fighters take a tremendous toll on the Luftwaffe. Only 8th Air Force losses are included in the table. One of the losses from 353rd Fighter Group was a 359th Fighter Group pilot and aircraft in the strafing unit.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: NA

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19193344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-523643
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-609503
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Moved pin from Brunswick US to Braunschweig Germany

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'.