VIII Fighter Command FO-195 FIGHTER/BOMBER MISSION

4 December 1943
media-21321.jpeg UPL 21321 Republic P-47D 42-8414 SX-K “The Flying Finn," "Ginny" and "Doll”, pilot Lt. Juntilla, 352nd FS 353rd FG, December 1943.

At 16:15 hrs on December 4, 1943 SX-K, piloted by Lt. Kipfer, was landing at Metfield from the mission and blew a tyre causing the aircraft to nose over. Although Lt. Kipfer was flying the aircraft for the mission, SX-K was assigned and named by Lt. Wilbert H. Juntilla.

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Object Number - UPL 21321 - Republic P-47D 42-8414 SX-K “The Flying Finn," "Ginny" and "Doll”, pilot Lt. Juntilla, 352nd FS 353rd FG, December 1943. At 16:15 hrs on...

Description

A force of 140 P-47s is despatched from: 56FG; 352FG; and 353FG. 16 P-47s from 353FG dive-bomb the German arifield of Glize-Rijen, Holland. P-47 of 352FG perform a fighter sweep ahead of the attacking force. P-47s from 353FG and 56FG provide escort. The fighters claim 3-0-0 of German aircraft in the air. No information found to describe German aircraft destroyed at the airfield. There are no losses.

Mission Details

GILZE-RIJEN

Description: DIVE-BOMB ATTACK

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: 16 P-47s of 353rd Fighter Group dive-bomb Gilze-Rijen Airfield in Belgium while other 353rd Fighter Group and 56th Fighter Group aircraft provide escort. Amount of bombs used not in available record. 352nd Fighter Group carries out a fighter sweep.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: Not determined
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 140

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Jun-2015. Added claims on enemy aircraft to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-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'.

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