This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: November 23rd

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 23 Nov 2025 19:02:01 -0000

November 23, 1942
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 4
Target: Submarine Pens, St. Nazaire, France
Crews Dispatched: 12
Crews Lost: Lt. A.E. Reddig - 10 KIA
Crew Members Lost or Wounded: Capt. Fulghum - WIA/POW
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Bomb Load: 2 x 2000 lb H.E. M34 bombs
Bombing Altitude: 20,000 ft
Ammo Fired: 5,754 rounds
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 2 Destroyed, 1 Probable, 2 Damaged

November 23, 1942
ETO 8th AF: Mission 23: 50 B-17s and 8 B-24s are dispatched to hit the St Nazaire submarine base in France for the 5th time in 2 weeks; the cumulative effect of the operation on the base is large though the sub shelter shows little permanent damage; 28 B-17s and 8 B-24s hit the target; they claim 16-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; the AAF crews report a change in fighter tactics from rear to head-on attack as the Luftwaffe learns that the B-17 and B-24 are weak in forward firepower; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 16 B-17s and 1 B-24 are damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA and 43 MIA. Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, First Lord of the Admiralty, writes to Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker, Commanding General Eighth AF, praising the effects of the US bomber attacks on disorganizing the servicing schedule of the German U-boat bases on the French W coast.

November 23, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 276
Target: Synthetic Oil Plant at Gelsenkirchen, Germany
and Railroad Junction at Duisberg, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 26
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Bomb Load: 20 x 250 lb H.E. M57 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 26,000 & 24,500 ft
Ammo Fired: 810 rounds

November 23, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 722: In Germany, 134 of 155 B-17s and 73 of 78 P-51s make a GH attack on the Norstern benzol manufacturing plant near Gelsenkirchen and the marshalling yard at Duisburg with the loss of 1 P-51 (pilot MIA) and 1 P-51 damaged beyond repair; 13 of 13 B-17s fly a screening mission and 10 of 12 P-51s fly a scouting mission.