This Day in . . .
303rd Bomb Group (H) History
January 27, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 12
Target: Wilhelmshaven Naval Base, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 11
Length of Mission: 5 1/2 hours
Bomb Load: 4 x 1000 lbs H.E. Demolition bombs
Bombing Altitude: 23,000 ft
Ammo Fired: 14,142 rounds
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 1 Destroyed, 1 Damaged
This was the first 8th AF mission to bomb Germany. The 303rd BG(H)
formation was led by 360BS Capt Lewis E. Lyle (Pilot) and Colonel
Charles E. Marion (CoPilot)
View Mission Report
January 27, 1943
8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 31: The 8th AF makes its first raid on Germany. The 1st and 2nd Bombardment Wings dispatch 64 B-17s and 27 B-24s against the primary target, the Wilhelmshaven, Germany Naval Base; 53 B-17s hit the target between 1110 and 1113 hours local dropping 137.5 tons of bombs; two other B-17s attack the submarine base at Emden at 1135 hours as a target of opportunity; the B-24s are unable to locate the target due to bad weather and a navigational error and return to base. Mission stats: we claim 22 enemy aircraft destroyed, 14 probably destroyed and 13 damaged; 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are lost; 32 B-17s and 11 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 3 WIA and 30 MIA. Seven Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group fly uneventful fighter patrols.
January 27, 1943
The USAAF makes its first raid on Germany with a force of B-17s and B-24s hitting Emden and Wilhelmshaven in daylight.
January 27, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 194: 5 of 5 B-17's drop 1.44 million leaflets on Paris, Rennes, Le Mans and Orleans, France without loss.
January 27, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 352nd Fighter Group and the 486th and 487th Fighter Squadrons move from Bodney, England to Chievres, Belgium with P-51s.
January 26
January 28
