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303rd Bomb Group Insignia. "Might in Flight"
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Staff-Sergeant Jack E Snell of the 303rd Bomb Group meets the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Confidential.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Apr 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'During a recent inspection tour of an American airdrome the Duke of Gloucester pauses to shake hands with S/Sgt Jack E Snell, of Sedalin, Miss. Sgt Snell is a member of a Flying Fortress crew. In the foreground is Lt Col Hubert Zemke, Missoula, Mount, in the background is the Duchess of Glouscester. Kingcliff [obscured by censor] Airdrome, nr Peterborough [obscured by censor], England.'
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2Lt Vern L. Moncur
303rd BG / 359th BS Pilot
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Vern L. Moncur
B-17 Flight Training
Class 43-D Hemet, CA
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Ellera Corwin, 2nd Lieutenant
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Sgt. Andrew J. Diaczynski, Ball Turret Gunner, 358th Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group
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Conrad John Kersch of the 19th Bomb Group in Australia in 1942. He later transferred to the ETO and joined the 303rd Bomb Group.
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Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for 1st Lieutenant Joseph F Fahlbusch of the 303rd Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman.
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Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Lieutenant John A Van Wie of the 303rd Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman.
If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New Mexico for advanced flight training until 7-August-1942 when it moved to Biggs Field, Texas to prepare for deployment overseas. The ground echelon moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey on 24-August-1942 and sailed for the UK aboard the Queen Mary on 5-September-1942 arriving at Greenock, UK on 10-September-1942. The air echelon flew to Kellogg Field, Michigan and then on to Dow Field, Maine to begin deployment to England. The Group finally assembled at Molesworth and flew its first combat mission on 17-Nov-1942.
From 17-Nov-1942 until 25-April-1945 the Group flew 364 missions in 10,721 sorties and dropped 24,918 tons of bombs. The Group lost 165 aircraft MIA.
The "Hell's Angels" were named after the B-17 Flying Fortress 41-24577 of the same name, which was the first B-17 in the Eighth Air Force to complete 25 missions. The Group was based solely at Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, between 12 September 1942 and 11 June 1945, flying 364 missions in 10,721 sorties (more than any other B-17 Eighth Air Force Group) and dropped 24,918 tons of bombs (2nd highest in 8AF). Abundant information on this group may be researched at: http://www.303rdbg.com/ hosted by Mr. Gary Moncur. This is perhaps the most comprehensive website currently existing (11-Nov-2014) on any 8th AF Bomb Group.
CLAIMS TO FAME
B-17F 41-24577 'Hell's Angels' first B-17 aircraft to complete 25 missions
B-17F 41-24605 'Knock-Out Dropper' first B-17 aircraft to complete 50 and 75 missions
B-17G 42-38050 'Thunderbird' one of the few B-17s to fly more than 100 missions
First 8th Air Force Bomb Group to complete 300 missions
Flew more missions than any other 8th Air Force Bomb Group.
- Commanding officers
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Military | Colonel | Assistant Chief of Staff; Director of Operations; CO | 303rd Bomb Group
303 Bomb Group records indicate that he was assigned as a Pilot with the 303BG/360BS on 1-May-42 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with the rank of Major. Records are not clear as to when he arrived at Molesworth, UK or on what aircraft.
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Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
Commanding Officer, 303rd Bomb Group 13-Jul-42 to 12-Feb-43.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
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Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer; Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Stationed in Savannah when 8th AF formed; Commanding Officer 303rd BG from 19-Jul-43 to 1-Sep-44; led first daylight bombing mission over Norway
SS/ DFC w/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster
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Military | Colonel | Operations Officer; Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
Commanding Officer 526th Bombardment Squadron,379th Bombardment Group from 29 May 1943 to April 1944.
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Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer; Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Commanding Officer 303rd Bomb Group from 29-Oct-44 to 19-Apr-45.
SS/ DFC w/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
Structure
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Squadron
Browse 18th Weather Squadron photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/60
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Not yet known
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Missions
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17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
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18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
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22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
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23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
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6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
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20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
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30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
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3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
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13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
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Stations
Station |
Location |
Date |
Based |
Molesworth |
12 September 1942 – 11 June 1945 |
Connections
People
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Military | Captain | Pilot/Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Donald C Aageson served as a pilot with the 303rd Bomb Group. He flew 29 missions.
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
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Military | Private | 303rd Bomb Group
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Damaged by flak and crashed in Switzerland on 7/13/44 in B-17 #42-97905, Interned (INT).
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Military | Corporal (Technician Fifth Grade) | 303rd Bomb Group
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Military | Corporal | 303rd Bomb Group
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Military | Corporal | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Flew 30 Missions, most with Edwards Crew
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down by flak on a mission to Dyon, FR on 6 Feb 1944 in B-17G 42-97498 'Padded Cell'. Crew baled out and a/c crashed near Bricey. Prisoner of War (POW).
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Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 19 August 1943 in B-17 #42-5392 'Stric Nine'. Plane crashed into North Sea. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 326BS/92BG Bangor 16/7/42; 95BG Horham /43; 359BS/303BG [BN-V] Molesworth, 17/6/43; Returned to the USA Sheppard 5/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 26/10/45. BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24517 [GN-O] 'Kali' 303BG/427BS assigned with crew on 1-May-42 at Alamogordo Field, Almogordo, New Mexico. Sent with crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine for deployment 5-Oct-42. Arrived at Molesworth, UK 24-Oct-42
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24526 "Leapin Liz". Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-J] Bangor 19-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action St Nazaire 3-Jan-43, shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed off St Brevin, Bay of Biscay, France. 10KIA Missing Air Crew Report (MACR)...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-K] Kellogg Fd 15/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; CCRC Bovingdon 27/7/43; 384BG Grafton Underwood 22/9/43; Salvaged NBD 31/5/45. JERSEY BOUNCE.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-25-BO 41-24558 [VK:F] "Hunga Dunga" was assigned to the 358BS/303BG [VK-F] at Bangor. Maine on 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Vegasack 18-Mar-43 when it was attacked by enemy aircraft near Helgoland. Germany...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-A] Bangor 14/10/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 60m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with Aubrey Emerson, Co-pilot: McDonald Riddick, Navigator: Lew Halliburton, Bombardier: Don Delaura, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Grover...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-H] Bangor 14/10/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; on training flight with Arthur Adams, Co-pilot: Gene Witterstetter, Navigator: Glen Herrington, Bombardier: Mike Libonatti, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lew Hart, Radio Operator:...
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Citations
Distinguished Unit Citation: 11-Jan-44 Oschersleben (All 1BD Groups)
Medal of Honor: 1Lt Jack W. Mathis 18-Mar-1943 Vegesack
Medal of Honor: TSgt Forrest L. Vossler 20-Dec-43 Bremen