VIII Fighter Command
2 October 1942Description
1FG despatches 31 P-38s to escort bombers attacking the aircraft factory at Meaulte, France, sustaining one loss. 1FG also despatches 34 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 7 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 4FG despatches 19 P-38s over the English Channel on practice sweeps; 31FG despatches 36 Spitfires as an escort for an RAF mission.
Mission Details
ST OMER/ LONGEUNESSE
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: First mission for 4th Fighter Group escorting bombers. Spitfires of 4FG on first mission as escort to diversionary force attacking St Omer Fighter Group E/A credits- 4 FG- 4
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
- Aircraft sent: 23
MEAULTE
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: P-38s as escort to main force attacking Meaulte. This is the first time that fighters have specifically escorted bombers and this is the last time that P-38s will be used to escort bombers until 3-Nov-43. The 1st Fighter Group has its first loss shot down by an enemy fighter to near Calais, 2LT William H. Young is Killed in Action (KIA).
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: Not Applicable
- People killed in action: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 31
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: Despatched as escort for RAF for Boston Bombers. Target not in available data. This is the last operation of the 31st Fighter Group from the UK.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 36
ENGLISH CHANNEL
Description: FIGHTER SWEEP
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 19
ENGLISH CHANNEL
Description: FIGHTER SWEEP
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: This group of fighters make practice sweeps and defensive sorties. First mission for 14th Fighter Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 34
ENGLISH CHANNEL
Description: FIGHTER SWEEP
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 7
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: British
- Unit: VIII Bomber Command 4th Fighter Group Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) No 71 'Eagle' Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33241 RAF
- Highest Rank: Wing Commander
- Role/Job: Pilot / Wing and later Group commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885135
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885093
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 1st Fighter Group 71st Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to statistics 4-0-1 on Meaulte escort.per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.