8th Air Force 296 and 8th Air Force Field Order 294

10 April 1944

Mission Details

COULOMMIERS (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 17T HE

FLORENNES/JUZAINE (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 39 P-38s despatched, all attack, no losses or claims. First Dropsnoot mission for 20th Fighter Group. 29 P-38s are to be used as fighter-bombers, the other 10 provide escort. Clouds covered the target so bombs were dropped in the Channel.

GUTERSLOH

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 28 P-38s and 46 P-47s are despatched to bomb this airfield. 1 P-38 lost.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 13T HE

ST. DIZIER (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 51 P-38s and 7 P-47s (353rd Fighter Group escort) are despatched, but this primary target is covered by clouds. 16 P-38s attack Coulommiers Airfield instead. 2 P-38s are lost and 1 damaged. 353rd Fighter Group gave area support and then strafed Villaroche Airfield.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

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: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-190715 / O-2044917
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-809350
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Colonel Jack S. Jenkins of the 55th Fighter Group by the nose of his P-38 Lightning, named "Texas Ranger". Handwritten on slide:"K 1167"
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group Headquarters Squadron (55th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-022606
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Service Numbers: O-20697
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Ordnance and Armament Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Fighter Command 67th Fighter Wing 20th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 55th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-?
  • Highest Rank: Flying Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A P-38 Lightning nicknamed "EZE Does It" of the 20th Fighter Group fitted with a "droop snoot" for bombing missions at Kings Cliffe. Handwritten caption on reverse: '20FG. "Droop Snoot". Bombing P-38.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Eze Does It
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 10th Air Depot Group 20th Fighter Group 10th Depot Repair Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron
French countryside, photographed through the nose of a P-38 Lightning of the 367th Fighter Group on landing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 30 Aug 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 31 May 1945.' [stamp] and '354528 .' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'P-38s over the Seine. No.1 of a series of pix taken through the nose of the P-38 as it comes in to land. Scherschel LIFE.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 370th Fighter Group 479th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron 434th Fighter Squadron 485th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Texas Ranger IV
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group Headquarters Squadron (55th Fighter Group)
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 3 495th Fighter Training Group

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'.