VIII Fighter Command FO-152 FIGHTER SWEEP & BOMBER ESCORT

9 October 1943

Description

A combined force of 153 P-47s from 78FG; 325FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to performa fighter sweep in the Leeuwarden area of Holland before joining the B-17 bomber formations attacking at Anklam and Marienburg, Germany. There are no losses or claims.

Mission Details

ANKLAM -MARIENBURG

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighters perform a sweep of the Leeuwarden, Holland area before joining the bombers

352nd Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

353rd Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

355th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

From left to right: Captain Walker L. Boone, Flight Officer Manuel S. Martinez and Flight Officer Gerry E. Brasher, pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, sit on the bonnet of a jeep at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 28 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - the "Guardian Angels" of Flying Fortresses. Here are pictures of Thunderbolts P-47s, the famous American fighter planes, which escort Flying Fortresses on their daylight missions over Occupied Europe. Pho

78th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Mission Statistics

Aircraft sent: 153

Revisions

Date4 Jul 2015 22:31:10

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015 Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:19

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

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'.