some of the stuff I look at all day long

[Hard Sarge]

VIII FC F.O. 286 - VIII Air Force F.O. 538
1 April 1944

Part II: Fighter-Strafing Attacks on German Airdromes
Statistics of U.S. Fighter Groups

Fighter-Bomber Tasks: Fighter-Bombing

VIII FC Missions by 2 Groups: 2

P-47 Sorties: - 47

P-47 Thunderbolts Cat.E : - 0

P-47 Cat.E or damaged Cat. B: - 0

Personnel Casualties: - 0

Combat Claims (Air): - 0-1-0
Combat Claims (Ground): - 8-0-2

Enemy Aircraft Seen (air): - 8
Enemy Aircraft Seen (ground): - 31

Bombs Dropped: - 22 x 6 x 20-lb. Fragmentation-Clusters.

Miscellaneous Ground-Targets: Six locomotives destroyed, 6 locomotives damaged, 13 locomotives probably damaged, 1 tug-boat destroyed, 6 tugs, 9 barges, 1 Radar-installation, 1 M.G. emplacement, airdrome buildings, 1 light-Flak emplacement, barracks, Flak-tower and draw-bridge, all damaged.

[Hard Sarge]

[Accredited Claims: Miller List credits 356th FG with 4-0-0 air & 0-0-2 ground: Ed.]

• Claim 01.04.44 Capt. H.A. Ogden 356th FG HQ Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. R.B. Warren 356th FG 359th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt.Col. D.A. Baccus 356th FG 359th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. J.J. Meholic 356th FG 359th Sqn. 0 - 0 - ½ Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. J.J. Meholic 356th FG 359th Sqn. 0 - 0 - ½ Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. H. Weber 356th FG 359th Sqn. 0 - 0 - ½ Me 410 Wunstorf
• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. H. Weber 356th FG 359th Sqn. 0 - 0 - ½ Me 410 Wunstorf

• Claim 01.04.44 Lt. Wadlow 356th FG 359th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Me 410 Not admitted

b. Fighter-Bombing 353rd FG: Gütersloh airdrome

[Hard Sarge]

VIIIth FC F.O. 287 5 April 1944
Part II: Fighter-Attacks on Ground-Targets in Germany
Statistics of U.S. Fighter Groups
Fighter Tasks: Fighter-Attacks Accredited Claims
VIII FC Missions by 10 Groups: - 13
P-47 Thunderbolt Sorties: - 236
P-38 Lightning Sorties: - 96
P-51 Mustang Sorties: - 124
Total: - 456
Fighters Lost: - 9
Fighters Cat.E or damaged Cat. B: - 0
Personnel Casualties MiA: - 8
Combat Claims (Air): - 10-1-2 12-0-2 Combat Claims (Ground): - 88-3-120 85½-0-128
Enemy Aircraft Seen (air): - 18+
Enemy Aircraft Seen (ground): - 434+
Miscellaneous Ground-Targets attacked: 3 locomotives destroyed, 8 locomotives, 5 trucks, several Flak-towers, gun-emplacements, and a tug-boat damaged.

[Hard Sarge]

Points of Interest:
(1) Negligible enemy fighter reaction: weather and the absence of bombers were undoubtedly the major factors.
(2) Enemy aircraft seen in the Berlin and Munich areas were almost entirely twin-engined types, largely Ju 88s.
(3) Flak defenses were not as severe as would have been expected against the sustained attacks employed.
(4) In the Munich area, night-camouflaged aircraft were seen with probable radar equipment.

[Hard Sarge]

• Cat.E 05.04.44 Maj. Duane W. Beeson: PoW 4th FG 334th Sqn. P-51B-5: 43-6819 QP-B Flak: [font="wingdings 3, symbol, serif"][/font]Stendal
• Cat.E 05.04.44 1/Lt. Allan F. Bunte: PoW 4th FG 334th Sqn. P-51B-5: 43-6946 QP-L HT-cables: Gardelegen
• Cat.E 05.04.44 1/Lt. Charles D. Carr: PoW 4th FG 334th Sqn. P-51B-5: 43-6837 QP-I Flak: [font="wingdings 3, symbol, serif"][/font]Brandenburg
• Cat.E 05.04.44 Capt. Robert D. Hobert [font="wingdings 2, webdings, serif"][/font] 4th FG 336th Sqn. P-51B-5: 43-6836 VF- Eng: EPJ North Sea

[Accredited Claims: Miller List credits 4th FG with 2-0-0 air & 43½-0-39 ground: Ed.]

• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Plaue Airfield
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.T. Biel 4th FG 334th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Plaue Airfield
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.A. Fiedler 4th FG 335th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Plaue Airfield

[ul]
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.W. Goodwin 4th FG 335th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 He 111 N. Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. P.S. Riley 4th FG 335th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 He 111 N. Brandenburg

[/ul]

• Claim 05.04.44 Col. D.J.M.Blakeslee 4th FG HQ Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 88 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Col. D.J.M.Blakeslee 4th FG HQ Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Unident Brandenburg-Briest

[ul]
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Weisswarter/Busch
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Weisswarter/Busch
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 323 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 109 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.W. Beeson 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 -¼ Ju 52 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.T. Biel 4th FG 334th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 He 111 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.T. Biel 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.T. Biel 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 -¼ Ju 52 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.J. Blanchfield 4th FG 334th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Do 217 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.J. Blanchfield 4th FG 334th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 He 111 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. H.J. Blanchfield 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 52/3m Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. G.E. Montgomery 4th FG 334th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. V.J. France 4th FG 334th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 He 111 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. V.J. France 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 FW 190 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. V.J. France 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 52/3m Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. L.R. Pierce 4th FG 334th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. L.R. Pierce 4th FG 334th Sqn. ⅓ - 0 - 0 He 111 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.D. Carr 4th FG 334th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 52/3m Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.D. Carr 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.D. Carr 4th FG 334th Sqn. 0 - 0 -¼ Ju 52/3m Brandenburg-Briest

[/ul]

[ul]
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.A. Fiedler 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 52/3m Plaue Airfield
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.A. Fiedler 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Unident: Plaue Airfield
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. C.F. Anderson 4th FG 335th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Si 204 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. F.C. Jones 4th FG 335th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Unident: S.E. Berlin
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.W. Goodwin 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 88 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. P.S. Riley 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 He 111 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. A.L. Schlegel 4th FG 335th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 He 111 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. A.L. Schlegel 4th FG 335th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. A.L. Schlegel 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 52/3m Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. A.L. Schlegel 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Unident: Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. G. Carpenter 4th FG 335th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Unident: Berlin
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.W. Saunders 4th FG 335th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 52/3m W. Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.W. Saunders 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Me 110 W. Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.W. Saunders 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 W. Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. G.I. Stanford 4th FG 335th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 3 Ju 88 Brandenburg

[/ul]

[ul]
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. R.D. Hobert 4th FG 336th Sqn. 3 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. R.D. Hobert 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 FW 190 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 52/3m Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Maj. J.A. Goodson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.S. Gentile 4th FG 336th Sqn. 3 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.S. Gentile 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Capt. D.S. Gentile 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Me 110 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. J.T. Godfrey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 52/3m Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. D.R. Emerson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. D.R. Emerson 4th FG 336th Sqn. ½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. D.R. Emerson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. D.J. Patchen 4th FG 336th Sqn. 2½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 F/O F.W. Glover 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 2 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 F/O F.W. Glover 4th FG 336th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Ju 52/3m Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R. Simon 4th FG 336th Sqn. 2 - 0 - 0 Unident: W. Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. K.E. Carlson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.S. Tussey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Me 110 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.S. Tussey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.S. Tussey 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 -¼ Ju 52/3m Brandenburg-Briest
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.F. Nelson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1 - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.F. Nelson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 He 177 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.F. Nelson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 He 177 Brandenburg
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. W.E. Johnson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 1½ - 0 - 0 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. W.E. Johnson 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Ju 88 Stendal
• Claim 05.04.44 Lt. R.E. Hughes 4th FG 336th Sqn. 0 - 0 - 1 Unident: Stendal

[/ul]

[Hard Sarge]

5th April 944: U.S. VIIIth FC Summary of Damage and Loss
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-68086 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-67722 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-67905 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-68073 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-67035 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-68166 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-68012 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 20th FG P-38J 42-104185 Flak hits on airframe
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 4th FG P-51B 43-6889 Flak hits horiz-stailizer, fin
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 4th FG P-51C 43-106464 Fighter 20-mm. shell-strike
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 56th FG P-47D 42-22537 Flak hits aileron, heat-exchanger
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 56th FG P-47D 42-76509 Flak hits right-aileron, wing
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 78th FG P-47D 42-76356 Flak hits right-wing, gear-bay
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-6431 Fighter 2 x 30-mm. fuselage, rudder
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-6885 Fighter 1 x 30-mm. fin, tailplane
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-7147 Flak hits right-wing
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-7101 Small-arms 0.30-cal. right-wing
Cat.A 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-6440 Small-arms 0.30-cal. right-wing, engine
Cat.AC 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 4th FG P-51B 43-6507 Flak 3 x 20-mm. strikes left wing
Cat.AC 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 4th FG P-51B 43-6591 Flak 1 x 20-mm. strike fuselage
Cat.AC 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 4th FG P-51B 43-6753 Hit trees avoiding Flak
Cat.AC 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 56th FG P-47D 42-75180 Flak hits left-flap, tailplane
Cat.AC 05.04.44 Pilot unknown 355th FG P-51B 43-6898 Flak hits right-wing

U.S. 8th Air Force Diary of Fighter Operations: 5th April 1944. Field Order # 289. Total 538 airborne: 507 airborne less spares, spotters and relays: 234 aircraft did not complete the mission: 273 aircraft completed the mission out of 468 credited sorties on Fighter-Strafing: airdromes in Germany. Bombs dropped by Fighters: 28 x 120-lb. frag. clusters. Total aircraft lost: 9 (4 to Flak, one to Flak/Fighters, one to Enemy Fighters, 3 to causes unknown). Aircraft damaged: 24 less than Cat.E. Casualties: one pilot killed, 8 pilots mia. Combat claims 96-6-122 (in the air and on the ground). Ref: pro air 22/350.