VIII Fighter Command FO-87 BOMBER ESCORT

30 July 1943

Description

A combined force of 107 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; and 78FG are despatched to escort the bomber formations attacking the aircraft industry at Kassel, Germany. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-4KIA 1POW 1EVD 1RTD (Rescued by ASR). The fighters were all equipped with drop tanks to increase their range. Major Roberts from 78FG scores the first 8th AF "Triple Kill"; and LT Q. L. Brown of the 78FG carries out the first strafing attack using a P-47. This is the first major tangle that fighter escorts have had with the Luftwaffe and they claim 25-4-8 of the attacking fighters.

Mission Details

KASSEL

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt

Notes: They surprise the Luftwaffe over Bocholt, Germany as the enemy is not accustomed to fighter escort beyond the coastal fringe. MAJ Eugene Roberts 78th Fighter Group becomes the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to score 3 aerial kills of German aircraft on this mission. 1LT Q. L. Brown of the 78th Fighter Group becomes the first 8th Air Force pilot to perform a strafing attack with the P-47 on this mission. 4th Fighter Group - one Missing in Action (MIA), 56th Fighter Group-2 Missing in Action (MIA), 78th Fighter Group-4 Missing in Action (MIA), one 78th Fighter Group pilot rescued.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 2
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 25
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 8
  • Aircraft sent: 107
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Mat-2015. Added claims against enemy aircraft to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-May-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'.