VIII Fighter Command FO-192
29 November 1943IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Description
This mission is composed of two fighter elements despatached to escort B-17 formations attacking at Bremen, Germany. The first element is a force of 38 P-38s (includes some from 20FG/77FS) from 55FG. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 5KIA 2POW. The fighters in this element claim 2-0-2 of attacking German fighters.
The second element is a combined force of 314 P-47 from 4FG, 56FG, 78FG, 352FG, 353FG, 355FG, and 356FG. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 4KIA 5POW. 1 airman in a returing aircraft is wounded (WIA). The fighters of this element claim 13-4-4 of attacking German fighters.
Mission Details
BREMEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- 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 killed in action: 5
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 2
- Aircraft sent: 38
- Aircraft missing in action: 7
BREMEN
Description: FIGHTER ESCORT
Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Notes: Escort for bombers on Bremen raid. High winds caused fuel shortages.
- 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 killed in action: 4
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 5
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 13
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 4
- Aircraft sent: 314
- Aircraft missing in action: 9
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 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: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19081219 / O-743300
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 356th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-532306
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11045367 / O-796644
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-743313
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13123718
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Photographer / Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Slugger
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Nicknames: Spirit of Aberdeen
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTRs and POWs in description of P-38 element after review of MACR 1273.
Lee Cunningham 18-Jul-2015. Correcting FTR losses and POW statistics following review of MACR 1273.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-47 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added fighter claims on enemy aircraft to P-38 element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.
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'.