Forward Support v Escort Wing

[Spitfire Simon]

Can anyone tell me the duties/differnences of a Forward Support and an Escort Wing.

Many thanks

[drgondog]

Interesting choice of nomenclature. The designation for 8th and 9th FC is "Fighter Group" and the roles are interchangable depending on the timeframe.

During Normandy campaign both 8th and 9th (and of course RAF) were flying a lot of CAS. Before D-Day both P-51FG and multiple P-47FG's were frequently flying escort for 8th BC as well as 9th AF bombers.

Post Normandy, the 9th was devoted approximately 80% CAS for US Army and 20% for the 9th's B-26/B-25/A-20/A26's and zero for 8th AF escort.

Post Normandy, the 8th AF was 98% escort with occasional fighter bomber sorties deep into Germany and away from front lines, including napalm as well as 500 (most) and 1000 (few) pound bombs.

[dp_burke]

Simon, maybe you coudl give us some context of where you are getting those terms?

are they for example

the 786th Forward Support Wing

and 76th Escort Wing

or is it, 'the unit was performing Forward suport wings duties'.

Context means a lot.

[Andy Fletcher]

I think Simon is referring to the massed fighter formations employed to protect bombers during the RAF's Circus operations. I'm afraid I don't know the exact definitions but would hazard a guess that the Escort Wing were employed as close escorts whilst the Forward Support Wing would range ahead of the bombers to disrupt enemy fighter formations attempting to intercept the main body of the Circus.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[MW Giles]

I agree he is probably refering to Circus operations where a particular wing would be given a particular task in the operation. It varied over time but typical titles include

Forward Support
Close Escort
Rear Cover
Target Support
Top Cover
Withdrawal Cover

The terms are fairly self explanatory

Martin

[Juha]

Hello
IIRC the duty of an Escort Wing was the close escort, at least during the Summer 41, they were ordered stay with bombers whatever came. The Escort Wing was covered by the Escort Cover Wing which had a bit more freedom of action, (later on High Cover Wing was added and its had still more freedom to act and hunt LW fighters) During the Summer 41 the force that actively searched combat with LW fighters was the Target Support Force, which had the duty of establish air superiority over target area. The duty of the Forward Support Wing was to cover the initial phase of the withdrawal of the strike force and the duty of the Rear Support Wing was to cover the final phase of withdrawal. The system developed in course of time.

Juha