[303rd-Talk] Re: 303rd-Talk Digest, Vol 14, Issue 4

[Bob Van Pelt]

Gordon:  The 8th Air Force was made up of several sub groups - two of which were VIII Bomber Command and VIII Fighter Command.  (These designations may have changed during the war.)  VIII Fighter Command was usually charged with protecting the bombers until the fighters were allowed to break off escort duties and take the fight to the Luftwaffe on the ground and in the air.  I believe this occurred somewhere around Big Week, 20 February 1944, Operation Aurgument.
   
  The fighters had their own bases with names like Steeple Morden, King's Cliff, Boxted, Leiston and Martlesham Heath.  The fighters would sometimes take off after the bombers had taken off.  Remember, the bombers flew at 150 to 160 mph and the fighters flew much faster, so they would leave later to rednevouz with the bombers at some predetermined point over the Continent.
   
  Assembly is one of the most remarkable aspects of a bomber mission.  I have heard one in seven bombers lost in the ETO was lost either during assembly or returning from a mission.  It is hard today to comprehend the logisitcs that went in to putting up 1,000+ bomber missions considering most everything was made in America, flown or brought to the UK on Liberty ships, and then distributed to each station.  Here are some stats given to me by Ed Kueppers from the 8th AFHS a few years ago:
   
  Typical Eighth Air Force Mission - Mid 1944
   
  Heavy Bombers:                    1,400
  Fighters:                                    800
  Gasoline:                                   3.5 million gallons
  Ammunition:                           250,000
  German A/C Destroyed:                25
  U.S. Fighter Losses:                        4
  U.S. Bomber Losses:                       5
  Bombing Accuracy:
                          40% - 1,000 yards of MPI
                          75% - 2,000 yards of MPI
   
  The 9th Tactical Air Force supported the troops on the ground before and after D-Day by flying missions in support of our advancing boys.  They would knock out troop concentrations, tanks, artillery (any thing that moved), transportation targets (train busters) and communications targets, as well as strafe airfields.  A good friend of mine, Tom Liston,362nd Fighter Group, was at Wormingford originally assigned to the 8th and then after D-Day the entire group was transfered to the 9th AF, moved to the Contienent, and flew tactical support missions from there.
  
Bob Van Pelt

       
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