Quote:
Originally Posted by Kutscha
May 12 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 353: 886 bombers and 735
fighters are dispatched to hit oil production facilities in Germany and Czechoslovakia
Escort is provided by 153 P-38s, 201 P-47s and 381 P-51s
Where did your other 1500 a/c come from?
P-47s could barely make to the German border which leaves only the P-51s, and P-38s, for the deep escort duty.
Also when it says 735 escorts not all escorts were with the bombers. Only a 1/4 to 1/3 would be with the others flying to or from the rendevous point.
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Hm, my number is from Prien JG1/11. It could be other mission or combined mission with 15th Air Force. Or my memory is not good
I can not verify your info about range of P47 but it was primary escort fighter until march/april and in this time the 8th Air force attack e.g. Eisenach, Marburg, Magdeburg,Schweinfurt, Stuttgart, Regensburg, all points deep in Germany. Who provide the escorts?