VIII Fighter Command FO-194 BOMBER ESCORT

1 December 1943

Description

This mission was composed of two fighter elements despatched to escort bombers attacking Leverkusen/Solingen, Germany. The first element was a force of 42 P-38s from 55FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA 1POW. 1 aircraft crahed on return and was declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 1RTD. There were no claims agains enemy aircraft.



The second element was a combined force of 374 P-47 from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; and 356FG. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 3KIA 2POW. 3 aircraft are damaged. This fighter element claims 20-4-7 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

SOLINGEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

SOLINGEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighter escort for Solingen raid. An introductory sweep was flown by P-51s from 384th Fighter Group, but number participating not in available record.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 2
  • People returned to duty: 2
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 20
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 7
  • Aircraft sent: 374
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

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: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15069166 at enlistment, then O-748934
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to tatistics of P-47 element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.