VIII Fighter Command FO-106 BOMBER ESCORT
17 August 1943Description
This operation was conducted in two elements to provide fighter escort for the B-17 formations attacking at Schweinfurt/Regensberg. A composite force of 240 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to escort the penetration by the B-17s of the element attacking Regensburg. These were joined by 96 RAF Spitfires. In addition, 93 P-47s from 56FG and 353FG would provide escort to the withdrawl of B-17 element that had attacked Schweinfurt. The are joined by 85 RAF Spitfires. 3 P-47s are lost supporting the withdrawl - 3KIA. The fighters claim 19-3-4 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
SCHWEINFURT / REGENSBURG
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighters escort bombers as far as possible into France. The 56th Fighter Group and the 353rd Fighter Group flew a second formation in support of the Schweinfurt withdrawal. In addition the RAF provided 96 Spitfires on the penetration and 85 Spitfires on the withdrawal. 3 P-47s from 56th Fighter Group were lost, pilots Missing in Action (MIA).
- 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
- People killed in action: 3
- Aircraft sent: 240
- 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: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-659273
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734899
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15081882 at enlistment, then O-659316
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-661393
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660213
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 18-May-2015. Added Arthur Sugas to people associations per MACR 265.
Lee Cunningham 18-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and the 303BG Mission Report http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/060.pdf. Aircraft associations from "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE.
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'.