VIII Fighter Command FO-206 BOMBER ESCORT
21 December 1943Description
A force of 208 P-47s from: 78FG; 356FG; 358FG; and 359FG is despatched to provide escort to B-26 bombers of 9th Air Force attacking in the Pas-de-Calaise area. 1 aircraft with battle damage makes a crash landing at Manston, UK on return. The aircraft is declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) but the pilot is OK 1RTD.
Mission Details
PAS DE CALAIS
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighter escort for 9th Air Force B-26s attacking V-Weapon sites in France.
- 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
- Aircraft sent: 418
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 5
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 25-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'.