VIII Fighter Command FO-184 BOMBER ESCORT
19 November 1943Description
A combined force of 288 P-47s from 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; 355FG; and 356FG are despatched to provide escort to the B-17s scheduled to attack Gelsenkirchen, Germany. P-38s from 55FG were also planeed for the escort, but weather conditions kept them grounded. There are no losses or claims.
Mission Details
GELSENKIRCHEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: 55th Fighter Group (P-38s) was scheduled but weather prevented their participation.
- 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
![Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Zombie" at Martlesham Heath air base. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'ZOMBIE yellow, black outline. [illegible text] black white common practice of 361st FS.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377162.jpg.webp?itok=Cj8CR9kY)
- 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: 288
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 13-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'.