This Day in . . .
303rd Bomb Group (H) History
August 17, 1942
ETO 8th AF: Mission 1: 12 of 12 B-17s bomb Rouen/Sotteville marshalling yard in France at 1739-1746 hours; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17s are damaged. 6 B-17s also fly a diversion without loss; escort is provided by RAF Spitfires.
August 17, 1942
The first all-American bombing raid in Europe is conducted against Rouen by Eighth USAAF.
August 17, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 60
Target: V.K.F. Ball Bearing Works #1, Schweinfurt, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 30
Crews Lost: S/Sgt. L.A. Kesky (KIA), 1Lt. L.E. McCord (WIA),
3 others wounded
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 55 min. (303), 6 hours,15 min. (Comp)
Bomb Load: 16 x 250 lb British incendiary bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 20,000 ft (303), 22,000 ft (Composite)
Ammo Fired: 98,090 rounds (303), 48,060 rounds (Composite)
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 15 destroyed, 14 probable, 6 damaged (303rd) 18
destroyed, 7 probable (Composite)
View Mission Report
August 17, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 84: On the first anniversary of US heavy bomber operations from the UK, a two-pronged attack into Germany is launched, marking the deepest penetra-tion of German territory to date. The critical targets are the Messer-schmitt complex at Regensburg, and the anti-friction-bearing factories at Schweinfurt. 1. 230 B-17's are dispatched to Schweinfurt; 188 hit the target at 1459-1511 hours; they claim 148-18-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 36 B-17's are lost, 3 are damaged beyond repair and 118 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 12 WIA and 352 MIA; there are 80 high explosive hits on the 2 main bearing plants. 2. 146 B-17's are dispatched to Regensburg; 127 hit the target at 1148-1207 hours; they claim 140-19-36 Luftwaffe aircraft; 24 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 50 are damaged; casualties are 4 KIA, 9 WIA and 200 MIA; every important building in the complex is damaged; the surviving aircraft continue on to bases in North Africa. 60 B-17's are lost in the fierce air battle that extends to the targets and continues after the bombing. VIII Air Support Command Missions 23 and 24: Two airfields in France are targetted. 1. 36 B-26's are dispatched to Bryas Sud Airfield; 29 hit the target at 1051 hours; 2 aircraft are damaged. 2. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Poix/Nord Airfield; 35 hit the target at 1552 hours; 20 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA. During the night of 17/18 Aug the Royal Air Force (RAF) begins Operation CROSSBOW, massive attacks on German V-weapon sites. About 570 aircraft drop 2,000 tons of bombs on Peenemunde, Germany.
August 17, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Three missions are flown: 1. Mission 558: 10 B-24s are dispatched to drop Azon missiles on the Les Foulous, France rail bridge but the mission is abandoned due to deteriorating weather. 2. Mission 559: 1 B-17 drop a BATTY TV bomb on the port area at La Pallice, France. 3. Mission 560: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. Fighter-bomber missions flown by the VIII Fighter Command: 1. 397 P-38s and P-47s hit the Paris/Brussels area; they claim 3-0-3 aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged. 2. 318 P-51s are dispatched to hit communications targets; 7 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 4 are damaged; 1 pilot is WIA. 33 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
August 17, 1945
VIII Fighter Command: The 368th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based at Thurleigh, England with B-17s, sends a detachment to operate from Gibraltar to fly photo-mapping missions.
August 16
August 18
