VIII Fighter Command FO-128 BOMBER ESCORT
9 September 1943Description
215 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; and 353FG are despatched is support of OPERATION STARKEY to escort the 330 bombers participating in VIII Bomber Command mission 94. This si the first combat operation for 352FG as they fly a patrol over the English Channel to protect the landings of fighters from 56FG and 353FG. 2 aircraft from 4FG Failed to Return (FTR)-1POW 1 RTD (rescued by ASR). The fighters claim 1-0-0 agsinst the Luftwaffe.
Mission Details
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighters escort the B-17s only. 353rd Fighter Group first mission a patrol over the English coast to cover the landings of 56th Fighter Group and 353rd Fighter Group. 4th Fighter Group loses two aircraft. One pilot Missing in Action (MIA), one rescued from the Channel two days later.
- 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
- Prisoners of war: 1
- People returned to duty: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 215
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885170
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665391
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885172
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added fighter claims to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added Mission Narrative per "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'.