8th Air Force FO 283 BOMBER ESCORT
28 March 1944Description
A combined force of 453 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51, all from 8th Air Force units, are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking at Ijmuiden, Holland and at German airfield in France. A combined force of 46 P-38 from 20FG are despatched. There are no losses, casualties or claims in this element.
A combined force of 284 P-47s from: 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 359FG and 361FG are despatched. There are no losses, damaged aircraft or casualties. The fighters in this element claim 0-0-1 of attacking German aircraft.
A combined force of 123 P-51s from: 4FG; 355FG and 357FG are despatched. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 1POW 1EVD. The fighters in this element make strafing attacks on German airfields in France and claim 30-1-33 of German aircraft on the ground. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
Mission Details
DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 46
DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 284
DIJON / REIMS and CHATEAUDUN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Notes: All fighter groups from 8th Air Force. 355th Fighter Group strafed Dijon/Longvic German Airfield after the bomb attack.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 1
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 30
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 33
- Aircraft sent: 123
- Aircraft missing in action: 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: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19096880 at enlistment, then O-749531
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Young Uns
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added P-47 (Watten) element tot Mission Narrative based on the "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-51 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission Summary based on "The 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'.