Operation 'Frantic III'

[Tango Echo Dog]

Between July 22 and July 26 the 15th US Air Force flew three missions over Poland and Rumania flying to and from Russian air bases. Can anyone provide me with the statistics of this mission, especially the number of fighters which arrived in the Soviet Union on 22 July?

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Tango Echo Dog

Between July 22 and July 26 the 15th US Air Force flew three missions over Poland and Rumania flying to and from Russian air bases. Can anyone provide me with the statistics of this mission, especially the number of fighters which arrived in the Soviet Union on 22 July?

Hello Tango Echo Dog,

I think the dates in question are July 22, 26 and 29, as recounted in Mahoney's book published in 2013. On July 22, a total of 72 Lightnings and 47 Mustangs flew the mission. Subtracting 5 Lightning losses, 114 fighters should have arrived in the USSR.

I have sent you a message.

Regards,

Paul

[Tango Echo Dog]

Paul
Very many thanks for the valuable information

[Alex Smart]

Hello Ted,
From the Infield book "The Poltava Affair",

22 July - 15th AAF -
Fighters Despatched=119
Aborted=0
Landed=113 (72 P-38's and 41 P-51's)
1 down in Soviet territory
5 lost

26 July 15 AAF -
Fighters Despatched=102 ( 55 P-38's, 47 P-51's )
Aborted 4
98 (95?) To Italy
2 Lost (3 ?)

29 July 15 AAF -
Fighters Despatched = 14
Aborted 0
To Italy

So total Despatched = 235
Aborted = 4
Landed at Bases = 225
Down in Soviet territory 1
Lost = 7(8 ?)

F-5 aircraft
July 44
45 a/c dispatched from Eastern Command
36 a/c returned to Eastern Command
9 a/c continued to Italy
13 a/c dispatched from Italy and landed at Eastern Command
29 a/c of the above missions landed in Eastern Command after successfully photographing enemy installations
There were NO losses or casualties during the month.

There were no P-51 losses.
The following I have found over time.

22nd
14th FG
MACR 7006 - 42-104131 - O'Connor.
MACR7014 - 42-67201 - West.
82nd FG
MACR 7146 - 42-104260 - Freestone.
MACR 7003 - 43-28258 - Griffin.
MACR 7147 - 43-28638 - McPhie.

26th
14th FG
MACR 7190 - 43-28260 - Smyth
82nd
MACR 7002 - 42-104179 - Pinson.
MACR 7010 - 43-28679 - Grithith.

Alex

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

There were no P-51 losses.
The following I have found over time...

Alex

Hello Alex,

Thank you for the detail of USAAF losses. Do you know whether any P-38s remained in Soviet hands at the conclusion of the operation?

Regards,

Paul

[Mysticpuma]

Hi Tango Echo Dog. Although this isn't directly related to Frantic III, I did interview some of the 325th FG who flew the first Frantic Mission. It may help give an idea of what it was about, the conditions over there and Pilot's first hand thoughts of the location(s)?

Video here:

https://vimeo.com/54052096

Frantic information starts here:

34m 20s

Cheers, MP

[Tango Echo Dog]

Gentlemen
I have only re-accessed this site today.
I would like to thank you all for taking the trouble to provide this valuable information