This Day in . . .
303rd Bomb Group (H) History
July 17, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 51
Target: Synthetic Rubber Processing Plant at Hannover, Ger.
Crews Dispatched: 27
Length of Mission: 3 hours, 35 minutes
Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitude: 24,000 ft
Ammo Fired: 12,235 rounds
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 2 Destroyed
View Mission Report
July 17, 1943
8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 74: The two primary targets are the rail industry at Hannover, Germany and the aviation industry at Hamburg, Germany. Both missions are recalled due to weather but the bombers hit three targets, i.e.:
1. 205 B-17's and 2 YB-40's are dispatched against Hannover; 33 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 32-7-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 50 are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 9 WIA and 3 MIA.
2. 125 B-17's are dispatched against Hamburg; 1 hits a convoy and 21 attempt to bomb the Fokker plant at Amsterdam, The Netherlands which is obscured by clouds; the target is missed and 150 civilians are killed; they claim 28-9-33 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 41 are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 14 MIA. VIII Air Support Command Mission Nubmer 2: B-26's fly a diversion to the Cayeux, France area.
July 17, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 205
Target: Railroad bridges at Peronne & Jussy, France
Crews Dispatched: 50
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Bomb Load: 2 x 2,000 lb G.P. M34; 6 x 1,000 lb G.P. M34 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 24,200 to 26,000 ft
View Mission Report
July 17, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 478: In the morning 670 bombers and 472 fighters are dispatched to hit tactical targets in France; 1 bomber and 1 fighter are lost: 1. Of 331 B-17s, 37 hit Joigny la Roche, 36 hit Jussy, 35 hit Auxerre, 35 hit Peronne, 33 hit Ham-sur-Somme, 32 hit Anizy-le-Chateau, 25 hit Frevent, 12 hit Tergnier and 11 hit Eu Bridges; 12 hit Doullens road junction, 12 hit Hesdin fuel dump, 12 hit Frevent railroad and road junction, 11 hit Laon marshalling yard and 15 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 64 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA. 2. Of 339 B-24s, 58 hit Rilly la Montagne dump, 52 hit Belfort marshalling yard; 36 hit Gien, 34 hit Coulanges, 34 hit Neuvy-sur-Loire, 32 hit Sully, 30 hit Nanteuil and 10 hit Le Soulons Bridges; 11 hit St Dizier Airfield and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 54 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 7 WIA. Escort for the 2 groups above is 433 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is MIA); elements of 4 fighter groups afterwards strafe ground targets, claiming 23 locomotives, 18 trucks, and 55 train cars destroyed. Mission 479: During the evening 34 of 69 B-17s and 106 of 115 B-24s attack 12 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 23 B-24s and 28 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 5 WIA. Escort is provided by 209 of 227 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair. Mission 480: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night. 16 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
July 16
July 18
