escort fighter

noun

1. a fighter plane equipped to accompany other planes, especially bombers, on missions as a protection against air attack.

Word History and Origins

Origin of escort fighter¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The American P-51 Mustang was only successful as a high-altitude escort fighter because the original American Allison engine was replaced with a Merlin - at the recommendation of the Air Fighting Development Unit here at Duxford.

From BBC

"This created the most potent and successful long-range escort fighter of the war."

From BBC

Strictly defensive in strategy, and short on range, neither Hurricane nor Spitfire can be used as fighter escorts on long-range reconnaissance or bombing missions, and neither Britain nor France has brought out an escort fighter like the U. S.'s new twin-engine, high-speed, long-range Lockheed P-38.

From Time Magazine Archive

And until Britain develops an escort fighter it will have to rely for that work on a poor makeshift�light bombers, armed to do a job they were never built to do.

From Time Magazine Archive