VIII Fighter Command FO-91 BOMBER ESCORT

2 August 1943

Description

A combined force of 128 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to provide escort to 13 B-26s from 387BG that are flying a diversion for the B-26s attacking Merville, France (VIII ASC Mission 12A) and St. Omer/Ft Rouge, France (VIII ASC Mission 12B) and the airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland (VIII ASC 13A). The bombers from 387BG are recalled and the fighters were also cancelled.

Mission Details

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 128 P-47s provided escort for B-26 diversionary force (VIII ASC 13A). Sweep after escort was cancelled.

4th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

56th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

From left to right: Captain Walker L. Boone, Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez and Flight Officer Gerry E. Brasher, pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, sit on the bonnet of a jeep at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - the "Guardian Angels" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Pho

78th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

Aircraft sent: 128

Revisions

Date13 May 2015 22:05:04

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunnningham 13-May-2015. Edited Mission Notes based on "The Mighty EIghth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date13 May 2015 22:03:08

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 13-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:21

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'.