8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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42-5432
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42;
Morrison 7/2/43;
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-B] Molesworth 25/2/43;
Missing in Action Huls 22/6/43
Six killed in action:
-Pilot: Ray Jess
-Navigator: Bob Davidson
-Bombardier: Jim Montgomery
-Radio Operator: Joe Godzinski
-Ball turret gunner: Byron Johnson
-Tail gunner: Frank White
Four taken prisoner:
-Co-pilot: Harry Gunn
-Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Smith
-Left waist gunner: Sidney Hal
-Right waist gunner: Charless Hardacre
Hit by flak, crashed at Bergbossendorf, near Haltern, Germany
Missing Air Crew Report 3077
"THE HUNTING CLUB"
Service
Units
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303rd Bomb Group
Group
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... -
358th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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Charles Austin
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Charles N. Austin was originally assigned to the 92BG and arrived in England in August 1942. On 10-Feb-43 he and his crew were transferred from 92BG to 303BG/358BS as a replacement crew and assigned to B-17F 41-24558 "Hunga Dunga". He participated... -
Eugene Clowe
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
22-Feb-43 Assigned to the 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK as Tail Gunner of the 2LT James R. Dunn crew. ... -
Robert Coltrane
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Robert A. Coltrane was assigned as a Bombardier with 1LT Charles N. Austin's crew with the 92BG (aircraft assignment has not been determined). He arrived with the crew aborad a B-17 aircraft at Bovington, UK on 18-Aug-42. On 11-Jan-43 his aircraft,... -
Robert Davidson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier, Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 22 Jun 1943 in B-17 #425432 'The Hunting Club. ' Killed in Action (KIA). -
Fred Deal
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Originally assigned to the 92BG at Bovington as part 1LT Charles N. Austin's crew at Bovington, UK as an arial gunner. Aircraft assignment with the 92BG and number of missions flown with 92nd Group have not yet been determined. ... -
James Dunn
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
31-Mar-43 Killed in Action (KIA) as Pilot of B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts" in midair collision with B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The... -
Eugene Eckard
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Originally assigned to the 92BG at Bovington as part 1LT Charles N. Austin's crew at Bovington, UK as an arial gunner. Aircraft assignment with the 92BG and number of missions flown with 92nd Group have not yet been determined. ... -
Norbert Feldman
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Norbert B. Feldman was assigned as a Co-Pilot with 1LT Charles N Austin's crew with 92BG (aircraft assignment not determined) and arrived with the 92BG at Bovington, UK on 18-Aug-42. On 11-Jan-43 the 92BG was moved to Alconbury where he was... -
Joseph Godzinski
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 22 June 1943 in B-17 #425432 'The Hunting Club. ' Killed in Action (KIA). -
Harold Gunn
Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot, Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 22 June 1943 in B-17 #425432 'The Hunting Club'. Prisoner of War (POW). POW
Missions
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VIII Bomber Command 39
4 March 1943
After several weather-caused aborted attempts in attacking the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, the 8th Air Force is finally successful in attacking this target. A total of 71 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (18); 305BG (12) amd 306BG (21).... -
VIII Bomber Command 40
6 March 1943
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a... -
VIII Bomber Command 42
12 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France is the primary target for 72 B-17s. 91BG (18); 303BG (18) ; 305BG (17) and 306BG (19). Of this formation, 63 are effective on the target. There are no aircraft losses or claims on enemy... -
VIII Bomber Command 43
13 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France are the primary target for this mission but the rail line at Romescamps, the German airfield at Abbevile/Drucat and two other targets of opportunity are also bombed. 80 B-17s are despatched: 91BG... -
VIII Bomber Command 46
22 March 1943
The U-Boat pens and harbour facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. 76 B-17's are despatched: 91BG (21); 303BG (18); 305BG (18); and 306BG (19). These are joined by 26 B-24's: 44BG (12) and 93BG (14). Of this force... -
VIII Bomber Command 47
28 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville are the primary target. 79 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (22); 303BG (18); 305BG (19); 306BG (20). Of the 79 B-17's despatched 70 are effecrive on the target. One B-17 is MIA and 9 are damaged. The bomber... -
VIII Bomber Command 49
4 April 1943
The Renault armament and motor works at Paris, France are the primary target of this mission. 97 B-17s are despached: 91BG (26); 303BG (23); 305BG (18); and 306BG (30). 85 of the 97 despatched are effective on the target. Fighter resistance is heavy... -
VIII Bomber Command 50
5 April 1943
The industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is the primary target of this mission. More specifically the Erla aircraft and engine factories are the highest priority. 79 B-17s are depatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (21); 305BG (18); 306BG (20). 64 of the 79 are... -
VIII Bomber Command 52
17 April 1943
The largest mission to date, 117 B-17s, are despatched to bomb the primary target of the Focke-Wulf Aircraft factory at Bremen, Germany: 91BG (32); 303BG (29); 305BG (28) and 306BG (26). The German Luftwaffe is learning fast and mounts a fierce and... -
VIII Bomber Command 54
4 May 1943
The Ford and General Motors vehicle plants at Antwerp, Belgium are the primary target for this mission. 79-B-17 are despatched 91BG (25); 303BG (27) and 305BG (27). 65 0f the 79 despatched are effective on the target. There is moderate flak and fighter...
Places
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Molesworth
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Crashed | Bergbossendorf, Germany | 22 June 1943 – 22 June 1943 |
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The ship was severely hit by anti-aircraft fire and was last seen over the target area, where it was evidently in a very tight spiral before crashing into the ground. Six crew members were killed, with four being taken prisoner. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 May 2020 03:28:43 | CastleBren | Changes to production block number, markings, description, events, unit associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd Bomb Group records Edited "Biography" to make it easier to read |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 August 2015 19:31:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Aug-2015. Added Nickname per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:56 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3077 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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