What's New ?

Virtually every day there will be new Guest Book Comments and minor corrections, which will not be noted here. Newly Added Photos will not be noted here.

14 June 2011 - Added the Mission Journal of 427th Bombardier Stanley Bober.

13 September 2010 - The Missing Air Crew Reports are now available to view or download for the 303rd Bomb Group's aircrews that were missing in action over enemy territory.

18 August 2010 - Added the Mission Journal of 2Lt Charles P. Carroll.

17 August 2010 - The Uniforms and Gear pages have been revised with some new addition. Take a look!

02 April 2010 - Added the Lead Crew photos for Missions #58 and #74.

03 January 2010 - Officially launched "The Molesworth Pilot," a free, electronic newsletter about the 303rd Bomb Group. It evolved from the News Updates that have been sent out for the past year.

16 December 09 - Added the WWII Diary of S/Sgt James E. LaFrenier.

4 October 09 -

High Resolution Crew Photos: I have recently acquired high resolution digital copies of many of the 303rd Bomb Group Crew photos. These were taken from the original 303rd Bomb Group negatives and will produce an excellent print. See which ones are available on the Combat Crews listing for each Squadron.

3 September 09 - Found and added several of our Missing Crew Photos or our Crew Photo Collection: 358th: Kennard, McConnell; 359th: Capuano, Clemensen, Gates, Jannuzzo, Phelps, Whitlock; 360th: Wall.

20 August 09 - Added the 303rd BG Low Lead Crew for Mission 172, the first of three missions on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Capt Robert Sheets was the pilot and Mr. Walter Cronkite flew as a correspondent for United Press.

12 July 09 - Added the WWII Memories of 2Lt Billy Runnels.

23 June 09 - Added the POW experiences of Merle Mullendore and some photos taken at Stalag 17B.

13 June 09 - Added the 427th Malcolm F. Damon Crew photo.

01 May 09 - Launched Project: FOLDED FLAG to honor 303rd BG veterans who have passed away.

04 April 09 - Expanded the "This Day in History" to include 8th AF Operations. The link is below the Navigation Bar on the Home Page. It is also available as an RSS feed so you can read it with your other news.

17 March 09 - Added the address given by US Senator John Cornyn at the final 303rd BGA Memorial Service. The Service was held at the WWII Memorial on September 22, 2007.

11 March 09 - Added the Memories of a G.I. by Christ M. Christoff to the Journals page.

19 November 08 - Added the 359th Edmund Gaines Crew to our collection.

09 November 08 - Added the POW Letters home of 1Lt Paul W. Campbell.

08 October 08 - Contributions are now being accepted to help preserve this 303rd BG history. Thank you for you support.

06 September 08 - Added The Final Chapter to the story of Wulfe Hound, the 303rd B-17 captured and flown by the Nazis.

17 August 08 - Added the Lead Crew photos for Mission #316, Mission #84 and Mission #324.

16 August 08 - Added the Lead Crew photos for Mission #91, Mission #202 and Mission #154.

10 August 08 - Added the 358th John W. Stuermer and Richard L. McGilvray crew photos to our collection.

15 June 08 - Here's a rare find – the souvenir program from the Hell's Angels USA Bond Tour, Chicago Reception, 20 March 1944.

14 June 08 - Added the 359th Jack E. Stocks crew photo to our collection.

25 May 08 - New photos have been added to our Uniforms and Gear pages.

05 May 08 - Added the 427th Mitchell Arcy Crew photo to our crew photo collection..

26 March 08 - Added a touching story of a treasured "Silver Rattle" to the 359th Orville S. Witt Crew page.

12 February 08 - I have changed the default website search method to Google's Custom Search. Mission Reports are now included in the Search Results. Also, you can search the Mission Reports by themselves. The old search method is still available to those who prefer it on the Search Page.

03 February 08 - Added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #246.

23 January 08 - Added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #265.

20 January 08 - Added more information on the murder of Sgt Sheppard Kerman and his nephew's visit to the scene in Wolfenbuttel, Germany.

16 January 08 - Added a several new photographs and a new crew photo of the 359th Elmer Young Crew.

09 January 08 - Added a new photograph of the 359th Arthur F. Chance Crew.

03 December 07 - Added the Mission Journal of S/Sgt David O. Michael of the 360th 1Lt Henry F. Glass Crew.

23 November 07 - Added new Nose Art photos for Bad Penny, My Yorkshire Dream, Mairzy Doats, Old Glory and Thunderbird -- courtesy of Martin J. Reale. Also added new photos to the 360th Vitale Crew page.

26 September 07 - Take a walk down Memory Lane with photographs from previous 303rd BGA Reunions.

25 September 07 - The Grande Finale Reunion in Washington DC was wonderful and one to be remembered forever. Some photos are now available and more will be added soon. Also, on the same page, is a letter to the Association from President George W. Bush.

13 September 07 - Added the poem Old Warriors, by Amy Kirsch.

05 July 07 - Added a photo-to-video presentation of the Wreath Laying ceremonies on Memorial Day 2007 at nine overseas cemeteries. Many thanks to Jan-Willem van de Griendt who created it.

04 July 07 - On this Independence Day I have added photos of the POW flag taken from Moosburg City Hall on 29 April 1945, and signed by over 100 liberated POWs from Stalag 7A. Three or perhaps four 303rd BG men signed the flag, including Sgt Angelo P. Petix who brought the flag back to the USA. The photos and names are courtesy of the Mighty Eighth AF Museum in Pooler, GA.

28 June 07 - Added the amazing story of the Evasion of Sebastian Vogel, shot down over occupied France with the 427th Harry A. Robey Crew on Mission 11, 23 Jan 1943.

20 June 07 - On Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, 2007, wreaths were placed in behalf of the 303rd Bomb Group at all nine overseas American Cemeteries where our fallen comrades rest. It was a rainy weekend over most of Europe. We are grateful to our dedicated volunteer representatives.

24 April 07 - updated the Molesworth film noted below to one with a beautiful soundtrack. If you downloaded it yesterday, you may wish to update to the new version.

23 April 07 - Added a video of 35 minutes of Film shot at Molesworth from 1942-1945 by Major Charles D. Rowsell. You'll need high-speed connection.

02 April 07 - Added the 359th John W. Tulloss Crew photo. Also, some new Journals and Letters Home have been added.

17 March 07 - Molesworth Journals and Letters Home are now being added to the website. We are seeking personal journals or diaries kept by our veterans while at Molesworth.

04 March 07 - The final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association opens on Thursday September 20 at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia and concludes on Sunday September 23. There's a welcome reception Thursday evening and optional tours all day Friday. The highlight events are the Memorial Service at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC on Saturday morning and the farewell banquet at the hotel on Sunday evening. Association members can make hotel reservations for themselves and family at the $109 plus tax daily rate by calling 1-888-627-8210 and asking for the 303rd Bomb Group special rate. Cut-off date for reservations is August 28, 2007.

26 Jan 07 - Added new photographs of the nine 303rd BG Graves at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.

07 Jan 07 - Added information on the loss of the 358th 2Lt James R. Walker Crew in a 1942 training accident in Southern Idaho.

07 Jan 07 - Added a sketch of 2Lt Charles L. Gould, drawn by an unknown artist in 1944 at Stalag Luft 1.

26 Nov 06 - Added My First Mission, from the journal of 2Lt Carroll 'Ted" Binder, who was Killed in Action his 28th mission.

20 Nov 06 - Added the 359th Orville S. Witt crew photo.

22 Sep 06 - Several new photographs of 427th BS Support Groups have been added.

20 Sep 06 - Added the Lead Crew photos for Missions #236, #243, #274 and #343.

19 Sep 06 - Added some rare photographs of Stalag Luft 1 and some POWs.

19 Sep 06 - Some San Antonio Reunion Photos are now online.

17 Sep 06 - Added a crew photo for the 360th Matheson Crew,

30 July 06 - Added a very interesting letter from B/Gen Robert F. Travis describing the 303rd BG Mission #98 to Oschersleben. The 303rd BG lost 11 crews on that mission.

06 July 06 - Added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #97 (High).

24 May 06 - A new exhibit honoring 1Lt Vern L. Moncur was unveiled 20 May 2006 at the Hill Aerospace Museum. Photos are now online.

14 May 06 - 303rd BG B-17 Illustrations by noted Aviation Illustrator and Artist Mark Styling are now online. This collection will grow to over 40 B-17s soon.

27 March 06 - Added the 427th BS Dale C. Headlee Crew photo to our collection.

13 March 06 - We now have the Combat Mission Reports available on the website for all 364 303rd BG(H) Missions. They are linked on our Combat Missions Page as well as the daily entries of This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History, available on our Home Page.

07 January 06 - Added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #219.

10 December 05 - Added more Uniform and Gear photos courtesy of Ed Nored. This is a fascinating tutorial about the uniforms and flight gear worn by the men of the 303rd Bomb Group.

27 November 05 - Added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #37.

17 November 05 - Moncur sons take a ride in Thunderbird at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

16 November 05 - Added new Lead Crew photos for Missions 227, 278, 282 and 302.

06 October 05 - Added a wonderful new page about WWII Uniforms and Flight Gear, courtesy of collector Ed Nored. Be sure to check out this colorful look into history.

08 September 05 - Added a page honoring those who have served in the 303rdBGA for the past 30 years. There could be omissions in the early years as no accurate records were kept. Please let me know if I have overlooked anyone.

29 August 05 - As voted by the 303rd BGA Board of Directors at our reunion in Dayton, the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association, as it stands now, will officially dissolve on or about December 31, 2007. This does NOT mean that there will be no more reunions following the 2007 Washington DC Reunion. Plans are in the works to allow for reunions to continue far into the future. Also, our website will remain online and active for generations to come. Watch the website and Hell's Angels Newsletter for more information in the coming months.

29 August 05 - Our Officers Page has been updated with the new slate of officers for 2005. Some photos from our Dayton Reunion have been added.

11 August 05 - The PX is currently en route to our Dayton Reunion and will be closed to online ordering until early September.

31 July 05 - Added Video Tours of 9 of the 10 American Cemeteries honoring our 303rd members, courtesy of our Cemetery Photographer Jan-Willem van de Griendt.

26 July 05 - Added a Video Tour of the beautiful Netherlands American Cemetery, courtesy of our Cemetery Photographer Jan-Willem van de Griendt.

21 July 05 - Added the 427th BS Frederick W. Sawyer Crew photo to our collection.

17 July 05 - A work in progress is underway by Ed Miller, summarizing the casualties on each of the 303rd BG missions.

09 July 05 - Added Reflections on Being a Pilot in WWII, the remembrances of 360th Pilot Bert Hallum.

29 June 05 - Added a photo of B-17G 44-6076 Liberty Run. Liberty Run was previously on our Missing Nose Art list. Our Photo Gallery of 303rd personnel continues to grow, now showing over 700 individuals.

30 May 05 - Numerous individual photos and other photos have been added on this Memorial Day.

29 May 05 - Added new photos for the 359th Lee Bashor Crew.

28 May 05 - Added the 359th BS Noel N. Newell and John C. Kielman Crews to our Crew Photo Collection. Also added new photos for the 359th Clyde H. Henning, Richard F. Tasker and Cyril Tilsen Crews.

07 May 05 - 2005 Dayton Reunion Information -- Registration Packets have been mailed out. You should get yours soon. All the information is also available here. We look forward to seeing you there!

10 April 05 - Added information on 360th Pilot Brook H. "Hap" Lovell. We are in need of his photo.

06 April 05 - Added the story of the Evasion of Alfred R. Buinicky, who evaded capture for a time with the help of the French Resistance. Later he was captured and made a POW.

27 February 05 - We have officially changed the domain name of our 303rd Bomb Group Association website to www.303rdBG.com. This new domain name recently became available and our Executive Committee approved the change. Nothing else has changed and our Association remains strong and active. The new domain name is more logical and easily remembered by new visitors. The old domain name is being automatically redirected to the new domain name. Please update your Favorites, Bookmarks and links to www.303rdBG.com.

15 February 05 - Added the 358th Marshall L. Smith Crew photo to our Collection.

09 February 05 - Added the 358th Gerald A. White Crew photo. Our Photo Gallery has grown to over 300 photos. Do you have some we can add?

09 January 05 - New! Photo Gallery -- We are now seeking good, individual, WWII photographs of as many 303rd Bomb Group personnel as possible. New increased limits on our server make this possible with no concern of using up our allocated space. We would welcome your photos.

09 January 05 - Added a Group Photo of the 444th Sub Depot. We're trying to identify the men. Can you help?

08 January 05 - Added statistics on Heavy Bombers and Crews in the Eighth Air Force from 1942 to 1945.

05 January 05 - Added Tail and Squadron Markings for 8th AF Bomb Groups. Also added a new map of Molesworth.

09 November 04 - The names and graves from Brittany American Cemetery have now been added and our Cemetery Project is complete. We have photographs of all 468 303rd BG overseas graves and names on the walls of missing. We are deeply in debt to our volunteer photographers for their gracious help. Without a worldwide network, a task like this would have been nearly impossible.

07 November 04 - Added the Epinal American Cemetery Graves. Brittany, the final cemetery of this project, is coming soon.

27 September 04 - Added the Normandy American Cemetery Graves. The project is nearing completion as Brittany and Epinal are coming soon.

20 September 04 - Added some photos from the 2004 Savannah Reunion.

17 September 04 - We wanted to make sure everyone is aware that Harry D. Gobrecht, noted author and longtime 303rd BGA Historian, was named 303rd BGA Historian Emeritus at the recent reunion in Savannah. Harry has done an amazing job in documenting the history of the 303rd for many years, and continues to work daily on the 303rdbg.com WebSite Committee. He may well be the foremost 8th AF Historian in the country. Congratulations Harry! The recognition is well deserved.

08 September 04 - We have moved our talk forum, 303rd-Talk, from the Yahoo Groups back to our own website. For you who are list members, the move should be seamless. If you are not a member, we welcome you to join us. More information is here.

02 September 04 - The Savannah Reunion was a success and a wonderful time for those who attended. Photos will be added as soon as possible. The new President of the 303rd BGA is Richard Bowler, Jr. The new slate of officers is now online. We are looking forward to Dayton, Ohio next year.

19 August 04 - Added a listing of the 303rd BG Association Presidents, with photographs and biographies of some of them. We hope to add more soon.

15 August 04 - In order to make navigation easier through over 1600 separate pages, I have added a new Quick Search box to each page. Note the one at the top of this page.

13 August 04 - The PX is en route to our Savannah Reunion. It will be closed to mail orders until mid September. Please visit us in Savannah. Thank you.

29 July 04 - Grave and Wall of Missing photos have been added for Cambridge American Cemetery. We now have volunteer photographers of all cemeteries. Seven cemeteries are now online and the final three should be online during September.

18 July 04 - Progress continues on our Overseas Cemeteries Photograph Project. Ardennes was added today and Cambridge, Normandy and Epinal are in the works. We still need a volunteer for Brittany (St. James, France.) The others are virtually complete. If you can help, please contact me at glm@303rdbg.com.

10 July 04 - We are making progress on our Overseas Cemeteries Photograph Project. Henri Chapelle, Luxembourg, Margraten and Lorraine are virtually complete. Honolulu and Normandy are coming soon. We still need volunteer photographers for Brittany France, Ardennes Belgium, Epinal France, and Cambridge England. If you can help with any part of this, please contact me at glm@303rdbg.com.

08 July 04 - Added the 427th Fred E. Mitchell Crew to our crew photo collection. Also added the Lead Crew for Mission 195 and several new photos.

04 July 04 - On this Independence Day, we are launching a new Overseas Cemeteries Photograph Project. To honor those men who never came home, and as a service to their families, we are attempting to obtain photographs of each and every 303rd BG grave and name listed on the Walls of Missing in the Overseas American Cemeteries. If you can help us with this project, please contact glm@303rdbg.com.

16 Jun 04 - Added Bombing Mission Route Maps for missions 1 through 210. Maps were not drawn for the missions 211-364.

09 Jun 04 - Added some Frequently Asked Questions to assist our visitors.

30 May 04 - Added a photo of the Original Thunderbird Nose Art.

22 Apr 04 - Added the lead crew photo for Missions #257 and #281.

15 Apr 04 - Added the Wartime Log of S/Sgt Wesley C. Abbott, waist gunner on the 360th Paul H. Long Crew, who was Interned in Switzerland.

10 Apr 04 - Added a listing of Special Recognition Awardees that have been presented at 303rd Bomb Group Association Reunions. Please let us know if we have overlooked any awardees.

06 Apr 04 - We have several crew photos we are unable to identify. Can you help?

02 Apr 04 - Added the 359th Arthur G. Carpenter Crew to our Collection. Also added several new photos.

10 Mar 04 - Added the 360th Keith O. Bartlett Crew to our Collection.

29 Feb 04 - Added the Standard Operating Procedures for many aspects of B-17 operation.

24 Feb 04 - Several new photos have been added.

21 Feb 04 - Changed the format of the Photo Pages so that the Photographs link on the navigation bar shows the most recent photo additions. Many new photos will be added soon, so check the Photographs link often.

19 Feb 04 - Added the Standard Operating Procedures for Intelligence and Briefings for 303rd BG Air Crews.

18 Feb 04 - Added the Standard Operating Procedures for Formation Flying and Landings for 303rd BG Aircraft.

17 Feb 04 - Added the Standard Operating Procedure for Take-off and Assembly for 303rd BG Aircraft.

17 Feb 04 - Added the 359th Raymond A. Boulter Crew to our Collection.

07 Feb 04 - Added photographs of the original waist art painted on 358th BS B-17s Sky Wolf and Hell's Angels by Bernard K. Kastenbaum.

06 Feb 04 - Added the 358th William L. McKimmie Crew to our Collection.

29 Dec 03 - Added several new photographs. Many of the thumbnail photos link to other related photos. Make sure you don't miss them!

23 Dec 03 - Added the 358th William P. Lay Crew to our Collection. Also added the Lead Crew photo for Mission #163.

21 Dec 03 - Revised the Killed in Action - Returned to Base page and added a new Ground Personnel and USA Training Casualties page.

17 Dec 03 - Added information on Aerial Bombs carried on RAF and USAAF Bombers.

05 Dec 03 - Added the 359th John W. Reed and Maurice C. Altman Crews to our Collection.

21 Nov 03 - We are seeking Nose Art Photographs of a number of our B-17s. Do you have any of these photos?

19 Nov 03 - Added the Duties and Responsibilities of the B-17 Crew, from the B-17 Pilot's Training Manual.

12 Nov 03 - Added the 427th Gilbert T. Savage Crew to our Collection.

06 Nov 03 - Added the 358th William R. Hartigan Crew to our Collection. Also added the lead crew photo for Mission #191.

04 Nov 03 - Added the 358th Clarence M. "Max" Fountain Crew to our Collection.

27 Oct 03 - We now have all 358th, 359th and 360th Bomb Squadron Crews shown on the Crew Photo Pages. We are working on the remaining 427th Crews.

26 Oct 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #126.

01 Oct 03 - We now have all 558 Crews assigned to the 303rd Bomb Group represented on the Crew Photo pages. We are in the process of adding Mission Information to all crew pages. We are still missing 85 Crew photos. Please contact us if you can provide any for us.

25 Sep 03 - We now have all 358th Bomb Squadron Crews shown on the 358th BS Crew Photo Page. We are still missing several crew photos, but all 358th crews are now highlighted. In the near future we will add all the crews from the other squadrons.

24 Sep 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #142.

22 Sep 03 - Added the 359th Robert C. Peterson Crew to our Collection.

12 Sep 03 - Added more new Post-War Molesworth photos.

05 Sep 03 - Added several new Post-War Molesworth photos.

31 Aug 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #339.

24 Aug 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #141.

17 Aug 03 - Added many new photographs, plus several new 358th BS Support Unit photographs. Most recent additions were courtesy of George T. Mackin.

15 Aug 03 - Added several new photographs, plus new 358th BS Ground Crew photos for Sgts Smith, Kolstad and Kiser.

14 Aug 03 - Added the 358th John L. Cathey and Alfred B. Clumpner Crews to our Collection. Also added the Lead Crews for Missions 137 and 304.

13 Aug 03 - Added the 358th Charles E. Garrett, Sam Oliver and Franklin F. White Crews to our Collection. Also added additional crew photos for John P. Watson Clarence J. Goodberlet and William H. Woodson.

04 Aug 03 - Added the 358th Philip O. Benham Crew to our Collection.

26 July 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #328.

24 July 03 - Added some new Bomb Strike photos.

21 July 03 - Added new information on the 1199th Military Police Company to our support unit pages.

11 July 03 - Added a photo of the Enlisted Men of the 359th Henry McManus Crew to our Collection.

04 July 03 - Added the 359th Howard S. Dahleen Crew to our Collection.

05 June 03 - Added the B-17 Pilot and Copilot Cockpit Checklist and the Bombardier Checklist.

04 June 03 - Added the 358th Roman P. Charnick Crew to our Collection.

03 June 03 - Added several new photos to photo pages.

31 May 03 - Added new lead crew photo for Mission #47.

25 May 03 - Added several additional photos to photo pages. Be sure to click on the thumbnail photo to view other related photos. Also added the Narrator's Script for the 303rd BG(H) First Anniversary Officer's Party.

07 May 03 - Added several new B-17 Crash and Accident photos to our photo pages.

20 Apr 03 - Updated the format of the Navigation Links on the top of each page to a more modern style. It is now easier to navigate and we have the ability to include more links.

18 Apr 03 - Information and Registration Forms are now available for the 2003 Portland Reunion. You should receive a copy in the mail soon.

30 Mar 03 - The Photo Pages have been revised and reorganized to make navigation easier. More photos will be added in the near future.

26 Mar 03 - The TAPS Pages have been revised. If you know of deceased 303rd family or friends that are not listed, please contact us at: taps@303rdbg.com

24 Mar 03 - Several new Photos and a unique "5 Pigs Folding Puzzle" have been added to the Photo Pages.

12 Mar 03 - Added the 359th G. Neil Bech, Jr. Crew to our Collection.

10 Mar 03 - Nine new photos of the 15 October 1944 crash landing of #42-38050 Thunderbird have been added to the Thunderbird page.

08 Mar 03 - Several new Photos have been added to our Photo Pages.

25 Feb 03 - Added photos and narrative of the Continental Express Flights over Nazi Europe for ground personnel at the war's end.

25 Feb 03 - Added new lead crew photos for Missions #155 and #201.

09 Feb 03 - Added some photos from Casablanca, French Morocco, where the 303rd BG(H) was deactivated in July 1945.

06 Feb 03 - Added the 358th John H. Cook Crew to our Collection.

02 Feb 03 - Added the 359th James F. Green Crew and the 427th Edward J. Von Aesch Crew to our Collection.

02 Feb 03 - Added a new Unknown Crew we hope to identify.

22 Jan 03 - Added some new color Nose Art photos of several 303rd BG(H) original B-17s.

21 Jan 03 - Added video captures from a 303rd BG color film made in October 1942 when the original crews and B-17s were departing for England.

11 Jan 03 - Added coins and currency from the WWII era.

09 Jan 03 - A new Photo Page was added that shows many of the various vehicles used at Molesworth.

08 Jan 03 - Added a new Unknown Crew we hope to identify.