70 years ago today 18 November 1944 - From the 8th AF Historical Society database and The Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman. Mission 716: 402 fighters (47 P-47s and 355 P-51s) are dispatched to strafe oil storage depots in the Hanau and Ulm areas, airfields at Leipheim and Lechfeld, and miscellaneous ground targets in Germany; 374 actually attack; about 70 Luftwaffe fighters are encountered and the AAF claims 26-2-6 in the air and 69-0-41 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair. Fighter Groups operating (losses): 4FG (1 a/c), 56FG (2 a/c), 339FG (3 a/c), 353FG, 355FG, 357FG (1 a/c), 361FG, 479FG. Fighter Group e/a credits: 4FG (1 a/c), 56FG (12 a/c), 339FG (8 a/c), 353FG (1 a/c), 357FG (4 a/c). *Note* an apparent anomaly in Freemans statistics occurred this date. In one place it is shown that 56FG lost 2 aircraft, and in another it shows no 56FG losses. Upon cursory review I could not determine which account is correct. OTHER OPERATIONS: 36BS dispatched 1 B-24 on RCM with Mandrel and Dina in jamming test of enemy VHF in connection with 8AF Fighter sweeps. 7PG dispatched 2 F-5s and 1 Spitfire on PR Germany. 25BNG dispatched 2 Mosquitoes on WR Continent/UK, and 25 B-17s and 1 B-24 (B -24 aborted) on WR Azores/Atlantic/UK. ASR dispatched 12 P-47s (11 effective) on patrols. 2 P-47s and 16 P-51s on radio-relays. Mission 717: 4 B-24s and 6 B-17s of 1BD, 422BS drop leaflets in Belgium, the Netherlands and France during the night. 36BS dispatched 5 B-24s on RCM in support of RAF. HQ 92nd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds, England. *Note* 92CBW appears to be a shell organization, since its listed groups ended up in other wings: 351BG & 401BG became part of 94CBW, and 486BG and 487BG became part of 4CBW. Dont quite understand what I learned about this transaction. historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/92nd_Bombardment_Wing.html
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:29:05 +0000
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