VIII Fighter Command FO-170 BOMBER ESCORT
5 November 1943Description
THis mission is composed of two fighter elements. The forst element is a force of 47 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort to the B-17 formations attacking at Gelsenkirchen. While not as nimble as the German fighters, the four .50cal nose-mounted machine guns (later supplemented with a 20mm nose-mounted cannon) and a speed of 413mph in level flight could cut up the fuselage of a German fighter like a "buzz saw." There wer no losses in the element and the fighters claim 5-2-2 of attacking German fighters.
The second element is a force of 336 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG and 356FG despatched to provide penetration and withdrawl exsot for B-17s attacking at Gelsenkirchen. 4 aircaft Failed to Return (FTR) 2KIA 2POW and 1 ran out of gas and belly landed at Bodney, UK. Originally reported as Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) it WAS eventually repaiored and returned to service. 1RTD. This fighters in this element claim 13-4-1 of attacking German fighters.
Mission Details
GELSENKIRCHEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 5
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 47
GELSENKIRCHEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighter escorts for the B-17s only on the Gelsenkirchen raid.
- 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: 2
- Prisoners of war: 2
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 13
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 366
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Connections
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Revisions
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-38element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.