8th Air Force Field Order 309

22 April 1944

Mission Details

HAMM

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Notes: A mix of 859 aircraft from 8th Air Force and 9th Air Force provide escort: 132 P-38s, 485 P-47s, P-51s 242, of these IX Fighter Command provided 314 aircraft. 20th Fighter Group also despatched 8 P-38s to escort RAF Warwicks looking for ditched crews. 352nd Fighter Group despatched P-47s on penetration and P-51s to carry out sweeps. 356th Fighter Group P-47s carried out dive bombing attack after escort duties. Claims bundled and include 6-0-7 on the ground. Only 8th Air Force losses are included in the table. Losses in 9th Air Force were 363rd Fighter Group 4 P-51s, 362nd Fighter Group 1 P-47.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 80 x 100 IB

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: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-692287 and 35714917
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-699985
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693852
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810110
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-802628
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

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'.