This Day in . . .
303rd Bomb Group (H) History
June 4, 1942
ETO 8th AF: A HQ AAF schedule, with tables of composition and strength, indicating a total of 3,649 aircraft, is set up for the AAF in the UK.
June 4, 1943
8th AF: HQ 4th Air Defense Wing arrives at Debden, England from the US. This unit will be redesignated the 65th Fighter Wing in Jul 43. HQ 14th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) arrives at Camp Lynn, England from the US. The 544th, 546th and 547th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrive with B-17's at Grafton Underwood, England from the US. The group will fly its first mission on 22 Jun. The 555th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrives at Snetterton Heath, England from the US with B-26's.
June 4, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 170
Target: Gun Emplacements at LeTouquet, France
Crews Dispatched: 37
Length of Mission: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 25,000 ft & 24,800 ft
Ammo Fired: 645 rounds
View Mission Report
June 4, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Three mission are flown to France. In the first mission (Mission 389), the effort is to be divided between the Pas de Calais (COVER) area and the Normandy assault (NEPTUNE) area, however, D-Day is postponed 24 hrs and the NEPTUNE force is cancelled. 183 of 201 B-17s and 51 of 56 B-24s attack 7 targets in the Pas de Calais area; 10 B-17s are damaged; no casualties. Escorting are 130 P-47s and 42 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost; no casualties. In the second mission (Mission 390) 222 of 246 B-17s and 53 of 68 B-24s bomb 8 coastal defense positions in the same area using PFF; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 12 B-17s and 6 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. The third mission consists of 263 B-17s and 185 B-24s hitting airfields, railway junctions and bridges; of the B-17s, 96 hit the Massey/Palaiseau railroad bridge, 50 hit the Versailles/Metelots railroad bridge and 34 hit the Villeneuve/St George railroad bridge; of the B-24s, 23 hit Brourges Airfield, 72 hit the Romorantin/Prunieres Airfield, 56 hit the Avord Airfield, 55 hit the Bretigny Airfield and 8 hit the Melun bridges; 1 B-17 and 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; 34 B-17s and 27 B-24s are damaged; 10 airmen are KIA and 4 WIA. Escort is 135 P-47s and 277 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; no casualties. 2 B-17s fly weather reconnaissance over the UK and the Atlantic.
June 3
June 5
