303rd Memorial Locations

1. National Air & Space Museum Washington, DC - (6/76) Keith Ferris' 303rd BG 25 'x 75' Mural Fortresses Under Fire.
2. U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright Paterson AFB, OH - Memorial Plaque in Museum memorial park (10/9/82), MOH Photo Exhiblt of Mathis & Vosler.
3. USAF Academy Colorado Springs, CO - Cemetery Memorial Wall 303rd BG Plaque (11/4/82), 2nd Schweinfurt Memorial Lists 303rd BG (9/11/84).
4. Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, LA - HQ Eighth Air Force, USAF (9/14/90) - 303 BG Monument & Plaque (Rear View), Static B-17 Yankee Doodle II #44-83884 (BN-R) with 303rdBG Red Triangle "C" marking. Eighth AF Museum contains many 303rd BG items.
5. Lone Star Flight Museum Galveston Island,TX (4/7/91) - 4'x12' replica of Keith Ferris Mural Fortresses Under Fire. Flyable B-17G Thunderbird with 303BG markings. Plaque honoring Jack Mathis as a Texas Medal of Honor awardee.
6. Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE Strategic Air Command Museum - Medal of Honor Gallery - Mathis & Vosler. Raiders' Lounge, Offutt Officers Club. 1997 Lithograph by Geoff Pleasance, DSC Medal and biography honoring Lt Thomas Dello Buono, 360th BS Bombardier who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for combat heroism on the 15 April 1944 mission to Schweinfurt. Dedicated 27 August 1999.
7. Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX - Mathis Sports and Fitness Center named for MOH awardee 1Lt Jack W. Mathis. Dedicated 19 June 1996.
8. Hill Aerospace Museum Hill Air Force Base, UT - 303rd BG(H) Memorials -
Museum Building: Showcase with Leather A-2 Jacket of 1Lt Vern L. Moncur, 359th BS Pilot.
Hill Field Chapel: 303rd BG(H) bronze pew plaque - donated by Claude W. Sherwin, Jr., 359th BS Togglier. 303rd BG(H) Flag - donated by the 303rd BG(H) Association.
9. Mathis Muni Airport San Angelo, TX - 7/88. Plaque and Display honors MOH winner Jack Mathis & brother Mark Mathis 303BG KIA Bombardiers.
10. Gowen Field Boise, Idaho (9/92) - 303BG Monument & Memorial.
11. Swindle Field Walnut Ridge, AR - Memorial to Robert J. Swindle 427BS Bombardier KIA 1/23/43.
12. Hurlburt Field, Eglin AFB, FL Auxillary Field #9 - Named for 358th BS Pilot Lt Donald W. Hurlburt. Lt Hurlburt was killed on 1 October 1943 on an AT-18 take-off crash at Eglin AFB. Donald Hurlburt photo and biography.
13a. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - St. Louis, MO - Mass Grave Marker honors six members of the 427BS, Robert J. Barrat Crew KIA 2/9/45 - 2Lt Robert J. Barrat (P), F/O Shirl P. Best (N), Sgt William T. Karp (TOG), Sgt Louis M. Linehart (BT), Sgt Herbert D. Link (WG), Raymond F. Reiss (E).
13b. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - St. Louis, MO - Mass Grave Marker honors four of the 358BS, William C. DaShiell Crew KIA 11 January 1944 - 2Lt William C. DaShiell (P), 2Lt Hilton C. Mabie (CP), S/Sgt Robert L. Stevenson (E), 2Lt Thomas A. Sutherland (N).
13c. Zachary Taylor National Cemetery - Louisville, KY - Mass Grave Marker honors seven members of the 358BS Paul C. Stewart Crew KIA 4/24/44 - 2Lt Paul C. Stewart (P), 2Lt Rudolph H. Heape (CP), 2Lt Robert C. Moller (N), F/O Dario J. Manze (B), S/Sgt Thomas E. Coe, Jr. (Eng), Sgt Drackart L. Jones (Rad) and Sgt Joseph T. Jasinski (BTG).
13d. Zachary Taylor National Cemetery - Louisville, KY - Mass Grave Marker honors six members of the 427BS Melvin J. Alderman Crew and the Howard C. Lacker Crew who were KIA in a mid-air collision 3/27/45 - 2Lt Melvin Alderman, Sgt Oscar F. Bonner, Jr., T/Sgt Lane Foster, 2Lt Howard C. Lacker, 2Lt Roman M. Ley and Sgt Robert R. Reynolds.
13e. Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, Rock Island County, Illinois - Mass Grave Marker (Plot D-306B) - Seven members of the 1Lt Joseph H. Haas Crew KIA on 23 January 1943, Mission #11 to Lorient, France. 2Lt Roy W. Christianson (CP*), Sgt Jerry W. Dobbins (LWG*), 1Lt Joseph E. Haas (358BS Pilot) , T/Sgt Antone Pacheco (Engineer*), S/Sgt John H. Sherman (RWG*), S/Sgt Peter Soria (BTG*), S/Sgt Wayne O. Stevens (TG*)
(*) Original members of the 360th BS Louis M. Schulstad, Jr. Crew
(Photo courtesy of Al & Lorene Dussliere on 09 June 2003)
14. Community Theater Building Wall Pine Bluff,AR (1995) - AAFFTD Grider Field Mural (features LtGen Lyle 360BS B-17 Ooold Soljer).
15. St. Mary's Church of the Visitation Clinton, CT (1994) - Stained Glass Window & Plaque. Three 427th BS Robert M. Werts Crewmen KIA 2/16/45 - T/Sgt J.B. Price (TOG), T/Sgt Ralph W. Warne (E), Sgt Kenneth A. Bennett (TG).

16. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, Pooler (Savannah), GA - Opened 13 May 1996. The museum contains many 303rd BG(H) items:

A. The MajGen Lewis E. Lyle Museum Rotunda
(1) Painting of MajGen Lewis R. Lyle, and three recognition and biographical plaques.
(2) 303rd BG(H) plaque and flag with our group insignia.
B. The Museum Combat Gallery
(1) The 303rd BG(H) showcase exhibit
(2) 303rd BG(H) WWII Flag with battle streamers
(3) St. Nazaire, France Plaque and Photo exhibit honoring the 91st, 303rd, 305th and 306th BGs.
(4) Marion Stevens "Flight of Discovery" Computer Kiosk exhibit.
C. Medal of Honor Gallery
MOH plaques for 1Lt Mathis and T/Sgt Vosler.
D. Museum Library and Archives
Many 303rd BG(H) related books and archive donations.
E. The Memorial Garden
(1) Impressive 303rd BG(H) Monument - Front Panel - Rear Panel - Monument.

(2) 303rd BGA Past Presidents Monument

(3) 303rd BGA Service Recognition Monument - View 1 - View 2 - View 3

(4) Numerous individual name plaques on the Wall of Valor

(5) Restored B-47 with 303rd Bomb Wing markings. A 303rd BG(H) Red Triangle "C" insignia is on the tail symbolizing the historic tie between WWII and post-war bomber units and aircraft. The B-47 plaque recognizes the $40,000 donation by the 303rd BGA and members that made the restoration possible. View 2 View 3 View 4 View 5 View 6 View 7.

(6) Memorial Chapel - 303rd BG(H) Stained Glass Window - Donated by Judge and Mrs Ben Smith, Jr. Chapel and plaque

(7) Memorial Bench - 303rd BG(H) Bench and Plaque - Located near the 303rd Monument. The bench is dedicated "In Memory of Fallen Comrades 303rd BG (H)"

(8) 303rd BG(H) Crew Memorial and other appreciation and remembrance plaques.
2nd Schweinfurt Memorial Association
William H. "Bill" Adams Memorial
Julius E. "Sam" Bass Crew
W.M. Beasley "Duchess Granddaughter"
Theodore R. Beiser Crew
Louis Bourgeault Memorial
R.W. Cogswell "Iza Vailable" Crew
Forrest Howell Memorial
A.J. Cecchini "Chick's" Crew
R.E. Edmunds "Ol' D-Dog's" Crew
Philip D. Eisenwinter's Crew
J.W. Fredericks "Kellogg's Kids"
R.W. Grisham "Princess Pat" Crew
Robert H. Hallden Crew
Harry D. Gobrecht Crew
Thomas H. Hardin Crew
C.D. Haynes "Haynes Hobos"
William C. Heller's Crew
Jack Hillary's Crew
Robert Johnson Memorial
John F. Henderson Crew
Lew Lyle "Ooold Soljer" Memorial
Roger L. Kuykendall "Kirk's" Crew
R.W. Krohn Crew
John V. Lemmon Crew
Edgar C. "Ed" Miller Memorial
Gene McCutchan's Crew
William Monahan's Crew
Vern L. Moncur "Thunderbird" Crew
John A. Newton's Crew
Jack W. Rose "Red 166" Crew
John J. Van Geyten "Van's" Crew
Scrivner - Mathis Memorial
Samuel W. Smith Crew
Swiss Internees Association
Francis R. Taub Crew

17. Tuolumne County Veterans Museum, 9 No. Washington St., Sonora, CA. Contains exhibits honoring the 303rd BG(H), including the Might in Flight book and deceased member Carlton Smith, who was a resident of Sonora.
18. Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 U.S. Route 15, Frederick, MD. Contains a beautiful Veterans Garden of Honor which includes an Eighth Air Force Plaque and a plaque in Memory of T/Sgt Alfred M. Union, 360th BS/303rd BG(H) Radio Operator, Killed in Action on 03 January 1943. 303rd mission No. 9 to St. Nazaire, France in B-17F "Snap-Crackle-Pop" #41-24526 (360BS) PU-O and buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France.
19. Minot Air Force Base, Minot, ND (Dedication September 2003) - The Irwan A. Johnson Professional Development Center was named in honor of S/Sgt Irwan A. Johnson, Radio Operator, 360th BS, Lt. Finis A. Brumbeloe Crew and a native of Lakota, ND. S/Sgt Johnson, flying on his third mission in B-17F #42-548 "Red Ass" 360BS (PU-F), 303rd mission #84 to Bremen, Germany, on 29 November 1943, was wounded and shot down by flak and his B-17 crashed near Renslage, Germany (4 KIA & 6 POW). S/Sgt Johnson spent 24 months as a POW. After his POW release he remained in the USAF and had tours in Korea and Vietnam and retired in 1967 as a M/Sgt with 23 years military service. He left a legacy of selfless service and professionalism.

UNITED KINGDOM

1. JAC-USEUCOM, RAF Molesworth - Mathis Headquarters MOH Plaque honoring Lt Jack Mathis, Vosler Hall MOH Plaque honoring T/Sgt Forrest Vosler, 303BG "Might in Flight" JAC Memorial Headquarters Building, Building sign (8/15/94), Bill Adams 303BG wood carvings (1995-97), 303BG art collection, B-17 artifacts & photo displays, M/Gen Lewis E. Lyle Conference Room (1995), Hall of Heros Wall, Memorable Missions Wall, B-17 Hell's Angels Wall, B-17 Knockout Dropper Wall. Thunderbird Lounge, Heritage Room - 303BG photos, memorabilia & artifacts, Original 303BG "J" hangar with the 303BG (H) red triangle "C" B-17 tail insignia on the main door, RAF Molesworth entry sign.
2. RAF Molesworth - 303rd BG(H) Memorial - dedicated 3 Jun 2000. Memorial honoring the 303rd BG(H) on a grassy knoll outside the outer fence and security gate of RAF Molesworth. The location affords 24 hour access to the public.
3. All Saints Church - Brighton - 303BG Memorial Plaque (6/24/84). American Servicemen Plaque honors American servicemen who donated 1800 pounds in 1958 for the reconstruction of the church spire what was knocked off by a low flying British aircraft.
4. Duxford Airfield Imperial War Museum, Cambridgeshire, England - 303rd BG(H) "Might in Flight" Insignia. Part of the all Eighth AF Unit Insignia.
5. Globe Inn, Alresford, England (11/93) - Memorial Plaque. Capt Cogswell avoided crash in town when B-17 was abandoned in air 9/26/43.
6. Guild Hall - Borough of Much Wenlock, Shropshire - Memorial plaque Lt Stephan Crew. - 7 KIA on 11/11/44 in Duffy's Tavern. Names on the plaque are 2Lt P.C. Stephan (P), 2Lt J.R. Clingler (CP), F/O H.G. Lewis (N), Sgt T.W. Tapley (TOG), T/Sgt R.R. Ladurino (R), T/Sgt S.W. Keys (BT), S/Sgt E.P. Harris, Jr. (WG). Plaque erected by the borough of Much Wenlock.
7. Memorials, etc. honoring the 1Lt James W. Pratt Crew
Eight members of the 427th BS James W. Pratt Crew whose lives were lost on 4 August 1943 when their B-17F 42-3134 (no name) crashed on the summit of Arenig Fawr, a 2,800 foot mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, six miles east of Bala, while on a night cross-country flight.
A. Crash site stone Monument and Memorial Plaque - Erected in 1945
Lists the names of the eight members of the 1Lt James W. Pratt crew whose lives were lost. For many years a group of Bala citizens would climb the mountain annually and place a wreath at the monument.
B. Resolution of Appreciation and Friendship to the People of Bala, Wales from the citizens of Tinley Park, IL. - Preserved in the Bala Village Hall - Presented in June 1995. Presented by Jack Dunn, Mayor of Tinley Park, IL to Cllr. Gwyndaf Hughes, Mayor of Bala, and members of the Town Council and members of the Penllyn Royal British Legion. Resolution initiated by Don Konley of Tinley Park following his 1994 visit to relatives in Bala when he discovered that a resident of Tinley Park, 2Lt Allen M. Boner, was one of the men killed on the 4 August 1943, 303rd BG(H) B-17 crash.
C. After 75 years on the summit of Arenig Fawr the original plaque had deteriorated to such an extent that it was decided to replace it. The new plaque was installed on 31 August 2019 by a group of volunteers. See the new plaque here and much more information on the 1Lt James W. Pratt Crew page.
8. Memorials, etc. honoring the 2ndLt George A Kyle Crew. On 16 December 1944, returning to Molesworth from a recalled combat mission, 360th BS B-17G 44-6504 (no name), with members of the 2Lt George A. Kyle Crew, crashed into the side of the 2,600 foot West Hill of the Cheviot Mountains near Alnwick, England. Two crewmen were killed: F/O Fred Holcombe (Navigator) and Sgt Frank R. Turner, Jr. (Togglier). Surviving injured and dazed crewmen were discovered by a Border Collie sheepdog, named Sheila who then summoned and guided her owner, Shepherd John Dagg and his neighbor Frank Moscrop, to the crash site where the crewmen were rescued. The shepherds were awarded the British Empire Medal and Dagg's Dog Sheila received the animal V.C. (Dickin Medal). The bereaved mother of Togglier Sgt Frank R. Turner wrote a thank you letter to John Dagg stating that she would like to purchase a pup from Sheila if she ever had a litter. A few months later Sheila obliged and the first of the new pups was dispatched by the R.A.F. to Columbia, S.C. as a gift to Mrs. Turner. The pup called Tibbie lived for eleven years and was adopted as the town pet of Columbia.
A. Eighth Air Force Commendation Scrool - Presented to the Shepherds of Cheviot in 1945 - Sutherland Memorial Hall at the foot of the Cheviot
Signed by LtGen James A. Doolittle, Commanding Officer, Eighth Air Force. Also displayed is a page from the local school daily record signed by Senior Officers of the USAAF and RAF.
B. Crash site cairn, Plaque and B-17 Prop blade - Dedicated 19 May 1968
Honors two crewmen of the 2Lt George A. Kyle Crew who lost their lives on the 16 December 1944 crash of B-17G #44-6504 (no name). Erected by the St. Michael's Church Choir Group. Monument unveiling was activated using two microswitches from the Bombardier's panel on a transatlantic signal from New York, NY. Participating in the transatlantic hookup were Eighth AF Commanders. Generals Carl A. Spaatz and Ira Eaker and Air Vice Marshall David Crowley-Milling, RAF Air Attaché and Representative from Honeywell Corp. who produced the micro switches.
C. Cuddystone Hall, Sutherland, England - Memorial Plaque Dedicated 19 May 1995. Plaque to the shepherds of Cheviot.
D. Cheviot Memorial College Valley, near Kirknewton (5/19/95) - Memorial to WWII airmen lost on Cheviot Hills - Includes two 303BG Lt Kyle Crewmen KIA on 12/16/44.
E. Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland - Engine & artifacts from 12/16/44 Kyle Crew Cheviot Hills crash.
9. Mears Ashby (3/31/96) - Plaque & Memorial Two Beauts & Ooold Soljer lost in midair collision 3/31/43 - 15 KIA 5 B/O.
10. Cambridge American Cemetery, (Madingley) - 303rd BG(H) 303BG - 59 graves plus 85 listed on wall of missing names.

CONTINENTAL EUROPE

1. Soire-Saint-Gery, Belgium (6/27/87) - Memorial & Plaque Fowler Crew1 KIA 6 POW 3 EVD 1/29/44.
2. Cerfontaine, Belgium (8/15/93) - Monument & Plaque Osborn Crew 3 KIA 5 POW 2 EVD 12/30/43.
3. Most, Czechoslovakia Airport (6/6/96) - Plaque Earthquake McGoon and Lt Kahler & Sgt Smith KIA 4/17/45.
4. Pilsen, Czechoslovakia - Museum exhibit, Mauger Crew MIA 4/25/45 over Pilsen -3 KIA 4 POW 1 Evd. Crash site Memorial dedicated 7 May 1996.
5. St Pere-en-Retz, France (10/17/84) - Monument Sterling Crew MIA 5/1/43 over St. Nazaire -6 KIA 3 POW 1 EVD. Photo of Black Swan, Sterling, 303rd & 427BS insignia in City Hall (5/97). Crash site photo.
6. Malicorne-Sur-Sarthe, France (Late 40's) - Stone Memorial Monument O'Connor Crew MIA 7/4/43. Avoided crash into town. 3 KIA 4 POW 3 EVD. See: http://www.aerosteles.net/steleen-malicorne-b17
7. Pluvigner, France (11/5/94) - Obelisk & Plaque near City Hall Park. Haas Crew "Beats Me" Crash in city 1/23/43 7 KIA 3 POW Beats Me Crew Plaque in City Hall.
8. Beine-Nauroy, France (near Reims) (4/21/90) - Tablet in front of War Memorial - Dedicated to 2Lt Lawrence M. Wolf (KIA) Litman Crew 8/15.44 in Fearless Fosdick. Mission to Wiesbaden, Germany.
9. La Baule les Pins, France (9/23/95) - 1/23/43 Crash Site Monument & Plaque (plaque close-up) Adams Crew in Snap!Crackle!Pop! 7 KIA 3 POW. S/Sgt Magee fell 20,000 feet onto St. Nazaire rail station without a parachute. [photos courtesy of Serge Lebourg]
10. Pleubian, France (Scheduled for 1997) - Memorial Trojan Crew Yardbird 5/39/43-1 KIA 1 POW death 8 POW.
11. Eisenberg, Germany (9/24/93) - Memorial & Plaque Barrat Crew 2/9/45 - 8 KIA 1 POW.
12. Jarocin (Jaraczewo), Poland (6/30/91) - Memorial & Plaque Nemer Crew 2/9/45 in Pogue Ma Home - 5 KIA 1 POW 3 Returned.
13. Brummen, Holland (9/15/95) - Memorial & Plaque Sgt Bader of Davis Crew.11/2/44 '8' Ball MkIII crash in city - 1 KIA 9 POW. Crash site photo.
14. Krimice, Czechoslovakia (9/7/96) - Mauger KIA Crewmen Memorial - lost near Pilsen 25 April 1945.
15. St. Nazaire, France City Hall Display - 1997 - Replica of St. Nazaire Display at the Mighty Eighth AF Heritage Museum in Savannah, GA. Honors 91st, 303rd, 305th and 306th BGs who bombed the submarine pens at St. Nazaire during 1942-1943 and St. Nazaire citizens who died during the bombings. Designed by Harry D. Gobrecht, Historian of the 303rdBGA. Presentation to Michel Lugez.
16. Tressin, France (1994) Tressin War Memorial & "Old Glory" Memorial Plaque. In memory of the crew of B-17G #43-31432 "Old Glory - 359BS . 1Lt Dale M. Fisher Crew, MIA 22 June 1944 mission to Lille, France. (8 KIA, 1 Evadee).
17. Eswars, France (2005) Eisele Crew Memorial. In memory of the crew of B-17G #42-107048 - 360BS. 1Lt Roy Eisele Crew, crashed 12 June 1944 mission to Cambrai/Epinoy, France. (9 KIA, 1 POW).
18. American Cemeteries in Europe 303BG (Graves + wall of missing names) -
England: Cambridge (59 + 85)
France: Brittany (11 + 32), Normandy (19 + 0), Lorraine (34 + 1) Epinal (4 + 0)
Belgium: Ardennes (87 + 6), Henri-Chappelle (2 + 3)
Luxembourg: Luxembourg City (9 + 0)
Netherlands: Margraten (74 + 40)
Total - (299 + 167)