Eighth Air Force Scouting Forces
Encyclopedia
The Scouting Forces were several fighter flights formed by Eighth Air Force
during World War II
with a mission to check for Anti-Aircraft (flak) sites; weather conditions, and for Luftwaffe
interceptor airfields and units in advance of heavy bomber missions over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
.
These flights were created by Colonel Bud J. Peaslee, commander of the 384th Bombardment Group. Colonel Peaslee suggested this to General James Doolittle
in 1944 as a way to gather real-time intelligence prior to bombing missions by Eighth Air Force.
During their 6 months of existence, the Eighth Air Force Scouting Forces lost 24 pilots: 9 in training and 15 in combat.
; P-51 Mustang
) was organized at RAF Honington
, and activated on 19 September 1944. It was assigned as a flight, attached to the 67th Fighter Wing
, 364th Fighter Group
. The group maintained its logistics, and detached pilots on a 15-day rotational basis. The unit flew 107 missions before being attached to the 857th Bombardment Squadron
at RAF Bassingbourn
, and logged another 24 missions.
; P-51 Mustang
) was formed at RAF Steeple Morden
, and activated on 26 September 1944. It was assigned as a flight, attached to the 65th Fighter Wing, 355th Fighter Group. The unit's pilots were assigned from several different fighter units, and successfully finished 136 missions, with the last mission being flown on 21 April 1945.
; P-51 Mustang
; B-17 Flying Fortress) was formed at RAF Wormingford
, with the support of the 55th Fighter Group. Although originated as a flight of the 55th FG, the 3rd Scouting Force established itself as an independent entity. At the beginning, the pilots of the 55th FG were detached to fly the P-51D's as scouts, but quickly they were replaced by assigned personnel.
The 3rd Scouting Force conducted the first of its 140 missions on 15 October 1944, and the last mission on 21 April 1945. The 3rd SF had the uniqueness of having some older B-17F's assigned for doing weather reconnaissance.
Although the 3rd Scouting Force was not meant for combat, the unit downed 22 German fighters while defending bombers.
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with a mission to check for Anti-Aircraft (flak) sites; weather conditions, and for Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
interceptor airfields and units in advance of heavy bomber missions over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
These flights were created by Colonel Bud J. Peaslee, commander of the 384th Bombardment Group. Colonel Peaslee suggested this to General James Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle
General James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
in 1944 as a way to gather real-time intelligence prior to bombing missions by Eighth Air Force.
During their 6 months of existence, the Eighth Air Force Scouting Forces lost 24 pilots: 9 in training and 15 in combat.
1st Scouting Force
The 1st Scouting Force (experimental) (P-38 LightningP-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
; P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
) was organized at RAF Honington
RAF Honington
RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the Joint CBRN Regiment.-RAF use:...
, and activated on 19 September 1944. It was assigned as a flight, attached to the 67th Fighter Wing
67th Fighter Wing
The 67th Fighter Wing was a unit of the United States Air Force for four years, between 1946 and 1950. It was located at Logan Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is unrelated to the modern 67th Network Warfare Wing.-Post war:...
, 364th Fighter Group
364th Fighter Group
The 364th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945....
. The group maintained its logistics, and detached pilots on a 15-day rotational basis. The unit flew 107 missions before being attached to the 857th Bombardment Squadron
857th Bombardment Squadron
The 857th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 492d Bombardment Group, based at Kirtland Field, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 17 October 1945.-History:...
at RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bassingbourn
RAF Bassingbourn is a former military airbase located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambridge. During World War II it served first as an RAF station and then as a bomber base of the U.S. Eighth Air Force...
, and logged another 24 missions.
2d Scouting Force
The 2nd Scouting Force (P-47 ThunderboltP-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
; P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
) was formed at RAF Steeple Morden
RAF Steeple Morden
RAF Steeple Morden is a former World War II airfield in England. The field was located 3½ miles W of Royston in Cambridgeshire, near the village of Steeple Morden.-RAF Bomber Command use:...
, and activated on 26 September 1944. It was assigned as a flight, attached to the 65th Fighter Wing, 355th Fighter Group. The unit's pilots were assigned from several different fighter units, and successfully finished 136 missions, with the last mission being flown on 21 April 1945.
3d Scouting Force
The 3d Scouting Force (P-47 ThunderboltP-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
; P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
; B-17 Flying Fortress) was formed at RAF Wormingford
RAF Wormingford
RAF Station Wormingford is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately northwest of Colchester....
, with the support of the 55th Fighter Group. Although originated as a flight of the 55th FG, the 3rd Scouting Force established itself as an independent entity. At the beginning, the pilots of the 55th FG were detached to fly the P-51D's as scouts, but quickly they were replaced by assigned personnel.
The 3rd Scouting Force conducted the first of its 140 missions on 15 October 1944, and the last mission on 21 April 1945. The 3rd SF had the uniqueness of having some older B-17F's assigned for doing weather reconnaissance.
Although the 3rd Scouting Force was not meant for combat, the unit downed 22 German fighters while defending bombers.