Albert W Diffenbach

Military

2-Aug-42 Assigned as a Bombardier on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar" at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar" but there is no record that he flew any missions with that aircraft. 303BG Mission Report records reveal that he flew as a Bombardier on a number of different aircraft in different Squadrons with the 303BG. He probably served as a substitute in those instances.



Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed "Old Soljer" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored 25 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 "Old Soljer". 25 Jan 1943.' Printed caption attached: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Side view of Fortress. This one's been named "Old Soljer" by her crew, who have painted the name on the side of the fuselage, as shown here. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, As

41-24559

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

41-24562

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sky Wolf
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group swings the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238766.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Naturally most U.S. boys in Britain wish they were back home and Sergt. Peter Soria of the U.S. Air Corps is no exception. He sends a message to that effect to his home at 172 and Hoyne Aven

41-24567

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Beats Me
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'

41-24569

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

41-24580

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hellcat Agnes : No Monkey Business
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA 2 August 1942 Assigned as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as the Bombardier aboard B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS.

Other

Mission #1 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24580, 303BG/358BS

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24580 "Hell Cat", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24559 "Oold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Promoted in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 10 December 1942 Promoted to 1st Lieutenant

Other

Mission #4 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK

Other

Mission #5 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24562, 303BG/358BS

20 December 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24562, "Sky Wolf" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur Seine, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failure force the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #7 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works, Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechancial failure forced the pilto to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Brest, France 27 February 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Rotterdam, Netherlands 4 March 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #13 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Rennes, France 8 March 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #14 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24587, "Bad Check", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #15 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Amiens, France 13 March 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #16 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany 18 March 1943 Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24619, "S-for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Correct Mission #6 to be an abort per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/032.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf Renumbered old missions 5 to new 6 and old 6 to new 7. Airman served in multiple 303BG squadrons whcih made mission count difficult to ascertain from Mission Reports

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2016. Made connections to 41-24567 and 41-24580 and Missions of 13-jan-43, 23-Jan-43, 27-Jan-43 and 2-Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates cited. See additions in Mission Events.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added Asssigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Jan-2016. Added New Person record based on303BG Mission Reports, 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html