VIII Fighter Command FO-172 BOMBER ESCORT
7 November 1943Description
A combined force of 283 P-47s from 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 356FG are despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Wesel and Duren, Germany. The 78FG flew the first double-group mission composed of two formations 'A' and 'B. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1EVD but none were as the direct result of fighter or anti-aircraft attacks. The fighters claim 1-0-0 of attacking German fighters.
NOTE: Roger A. Freeman iin "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" had the 355FG as associated with this mission. However, MACR research of 355FG losses on this date indicated that they flew VIII FC FO-173 escorting B-26 bombers of 9th Air Force attacking German airfields at Montdidier and Meulan, France. Since both operations were flown on the same date might have been the cause of the statistics being confused - Lee Cunningham.
Mission Details
WESEL/DUREN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Fighter escort for raid on Wesel and Duren, Germany. The 78th Fighter Group flew the first double-group missions with 'A' and 'B' formations.
- 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- People evaded: 1
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 283
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
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: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34338496
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- 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: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-000989
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015 Adding Edwin Carlson to People associations based on MACR 1280.
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Corrected Description and added NOTE to Description based on analysis of MACRs associated with 355FG losses on this date. Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eight War Diary" is in error in assigning 355FG to this operation. 355FG DID fly VIII FC FO-173 on the same date, and perhaps that was where the statistics got confused.
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Corrected statistics based on research of MACRs associated with losses of 355FG. Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" erroneously lumped the 355FG in with other P-47 Groups assigned on VIII FC FO-172.
Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Corrected mission statistics from 2KIA to 1KIA 1EVD per E&E Report 340 (NARA).
Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-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'.