This Day in . . .
303rd Bomb Group (H) History
April 7, 1942
ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ War Department): The War Department officially states that the 8th AF will be established in the UK as an intermediate command between US Army Forces in British Isles (USAFBI) and the AAF commands. General George C Marshall notifies Major General James E Chaney of this decision.
April 7, 1945
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 354
Target: Marshalling Yard at Hitzacker, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 39
Length of Mission: 8 hours, 24 minutes
Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 15,000, 14,400 & 15,500 feet
View Mission Report
April 7, 1945
303rd BG: The Officers of the 360th Bomb Squadron held a very successful party. Almost all of the Squadron members where there, as well as some invited guests from other Groups and young ladies from nearby bases and villages.
April 7, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 931: 1,314 bombers and 898 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields, oil and munitions depots and explosive plants in C and N Germany; all primary targets are bombed visually; they meet 100+ conventional fighters and 50+ jets; the German fighters attack fiercely and in the ensuing air battle down 15 heavy bombers; the AAF claims 104-13-32 aircraft including a few jets: 1. 529 B-17s are sent to hit airfields at Kaltenkirchen (143) and Parchim (134), an oil depot at Buchen (36) and a munitions depot at Gustrow (104); secondary targets hit are the marshalling yards at Neumunster (37) and Schwerin (48); 1 other hit Salzwedel Airfield, a target of opportunity; they claim 26-10-10 aircraft; 14 B-17s are lost and 117 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 117 MIA. Escorting are 317 of 338 P-51s; they claim 31-1-8 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 340 B-24s are dispatched to hit explosive plants at Krummel (128) and Duneburg (168); 26 others hit the marshalling yard at Neumunster; they claim 14-2-6 aircraft; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 44 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 25 MIA. The escort is 252 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 30-0-7 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 3. 442 B-17s are sent to attack airfields at Wesendorf (107) and Kohlenbissen (93) and an oil depot at Hitzacker (115); 92 hit Lundeburg, the secondary; targets of opportunity are Fassberg Airfield (12) and the marshalling yard at Uelzen (13); they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 27 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. 209 of 222 P-51s escort without loss. 4. 3 of 4 B-17s and 29 P-51s fly scouting missions. 5. 23 of 25 P-51s escort 12 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany. The 374th and 376th Fighter Squadrons, 361st Fighter Group, move from Chievres, Belgium to Little Walden, England with P-51s.
April 6
April 8
