8th Air Force FO 254 BOMBER ESCORT

28 February 1944

Description

A combined force of 197 fighters of types: P-38, P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort for bombers attacking V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area. 4FG employs the P-51 Mustang for the first time. The despatch is made up of 81 P-38s from 20FG & 55FG 1 aircraft in this contingent is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - 1RTD; 94 P-47s from: 355FG & 356FG participate; and 22 P-51s of 4FG are employed. The P-51 element claims 1-0-0 of German aircraft destroyed on the ground. There are no other losses, claims or casualties.

Mission Details

PAS-DE-CALAISE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: Weather continues to be bad. Luftwaffe not challenging bomber attacks

Mission Statistics

  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 81
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

PAS-DE-CALAISE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: A welcome milk run for the fighter pilots. No losses or claims

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 94

PAS-DE-CALAISE

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Notes: This is the first use of P-51s by 4th Fighter Group. Claim is one on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 22

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A> Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. 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'.