This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: November 16th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 16 Nov 2025 18:03:11 -0000

November 16, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 82
Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine at Knaben, Norway
Crews Dispatched: 20
Length of Mission: 8 hours, 30 minutes
Bomb Load: 6 x 500 w/internal tanks, 12 x 500 w/o internal tanks
Bombing Altitude: 11,000 ft
Ammo Fired: 13,100 rounds
B-17F "Knockout Dropper" became the first 8th AF B-17 to complete
50 combat missions.

November 16, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 131. Two targets in Norway are hit with the loss of 2 bombers. 1. 130 of 189 B-17's hit the industrial area at Knaben at 1133-1238 hours; they claim 2-0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost and 7 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA. 2. 147 of 160 B-17's hit the industrial area at Rjukan at 1143-1145 hours; 1 B-17 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; casualties are 2 KIA and 10 MIA. 3. 29 of 39 B-24's hit the industrial area at Rjukan at 1204-1212 hours; no losses or casualties.

November 16, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 273
Target: Ground Troop Support at Weisweiler, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 51
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 40 minutes
Bomb Load: 30 x 260 lb M81 Fragmentation bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 22,400, 21,400 & 20,600 ft
Ammo Fired: 1,310 rounds

November 16, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 715: 1,243 bombers and 282 fighters, along with Ninth AF and Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft, are dispatched to attack tactical targets E of Aachen, Germany in support of the US First and Ninth Armies' offensive; 1 fighter is lost: 1. 486 of 495 B-17s hit transportation targets in the Duren area; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escort is 151 of 159 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair. 2. 490 of 501 B-17s and 228 of 243 B-24s hit transportation targets in the Eschweiler area; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 6 MIA. Escort is 98 of 107 P-51s; 1 is lost (pilot MIA) and 3 damaged beyond repair. 4 of 4 B-17s fly a screening force mission. 16 of 16 P-51s fly a scouting force mission.