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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)
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...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.
...
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...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24567 [PU:J] "Beats Me" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-J] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42. Participated in 7 Operations - 2 Aborted (See Biography events)
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot: [GN:V] was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-W] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24580 "Hellcat Agnes" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-C] Bangor 11-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-62. Participated in 6 Operations - 2 Aborts (See Biography events)
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu" was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Q] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; Missing in Action 23-Jan-43 while on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Attacked by German FW-190 fighters and crashed at...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24609 'Holy Mackerel' assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-Q] Bangor 3-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42. On 23-Nov-43 the aircraft flown by Maj. George L. Robinson was the lead aircraft of the 303BG formation in the attack on the U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42.
...
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...
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...
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.
...
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...
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...
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 ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
27 January 1943
First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
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...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned to Aircraft | Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA | 2 August 1942 |
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Assigned as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK as the Bombardier aboard B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS. |
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| Mission #1 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #2 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24580, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #3 2LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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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. |
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| Promoted in Rank | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 10 December 1942 |
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Promoted to 1st Lieutenant |
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| Mission #4 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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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 |
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| Mission #5 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24562, 303BG/358BS | 20 December 1942 | |
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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. |
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| Mission #6 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #7 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #8 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #9 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #10 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #11 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Brest, France | 27 February 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #12 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #13 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #14 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS | Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #15 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #16 1LT Albert W. Diffenbach, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 February 2020 03:06:57 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:56:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:52:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:49:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:45:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:42:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:40:43 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:38:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:36:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:33:31 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:28:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-May-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:25:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:13:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 23:07:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 February 2016 22:56:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 February 2016 22:52:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations |
| 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. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:23:29 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:20:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:16:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:13:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:09:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:05:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 23:02:00 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 22:59:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 January 2016 22:56:46 | Lee8thbuff | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, biography, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| 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 |
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