VIII Fighter Command FO-191 BOMBER ESCORT

26 November 1943

Description

This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a combined force of 28 P-38s from 55FG and some of 20FG/73FS despatched to escort B-17 formations attacking Bremen, Germany. There are no losses of claims in this element.



The seconf element is a combined force of 353 P-47s from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, 355FG, and 356FG. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 2KIA 1POW 1EVD. 3 crash land on return and are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 3RTD. 7 others are damaged. The fighters claim 36-3-9 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning

Notes: 20th Fighter Group/77th Fighter Squadron flew with the 55th Fighter Group. Escort for heavy bombers on Bremen raid.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 28

BREMEN

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: Fighters rack up good scores on the Luftwaffe.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 36
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 9
  • Aircraft sent: 353
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4

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
MACR Page 1 for Ralph E Cormier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-190904
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
From left to right: Lieutenant Wayne M. Dougherty and Lieutenant Paul W. Safford of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, put on a record in one of the buildings at Duxford air base. Passed for publication 13 August 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'At U.S. Thunderbolts Station. This series of pictures is a graphic story of the everyday activities of a Thunderbolt P 47 group which includes some of the finest fighter pilots - record holders of the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain. Keystone Picture
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-667673
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Corporal Joseph M. Gillen gives Second Lieutenant John W. Herrice of the 78th Fighter Group a report on his P-47 Thunderbolt before a night flight, 28 October 1943. Passed for publication 28 Oct 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Thunderbolts - The Fly. 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. Photo Shows:- 2/Lt. John. W. Herrice,
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-799566
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenant Stanley B. Morrill, of the 56th Fighter Group in the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-2928) at Kings Cliffe, 11 March 1943. Passed for publication 11 Mar 1943. Printed caption removed from reverse. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B. Morrill, lost 26/11/43. Short fuel, baled, POW in LM-I 27979. 22928. Kings Cliffe, 10/3/43. [Print Prod. No.] 252445.' On reverse: Not To Be Released Before, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661232
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
P-47 Thunderbolts (LM-R, serial number 42-7870), (LM-X, serial number 41-6224), (LM-O, serial number 41-6347), (LM-B, serial number 41-6193), (LM-C, serial number 42-7979) and (LM-G) of the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group fly in formation with a B-24 Liberator, 29 May 1943. Passed for publication 29 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'A Match For The Nazi F.W. 190 – The “Thunderbolt” – New American High-Altitude Fighter. EH/MoN. The latest American single-seater fighter, the Republic
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Annie M
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element atatistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
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'.