Military
![Lieutenant-Colonel Charles E. Marion, commanding officer of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored, but then cleared for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Here seen taking his cap from the rack at his British base Lt. Col. (Pilot) Charles E. Marion is commander of his group in the U.S. Air Force and has taken part in 11 raids on the Hun. Educated at Michigan University he has made the Army his career and at 32 years of age holds the Silver Star and Air Medal. His home is with his parents at 1020 Harvard Road, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Lt. Col. Marion is married. U.71. Not to be published before 20th April 1943.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-407493.jpg?itok=EdMeoECd)
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles E. Marion, commanding officer of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored, but then cleared for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Here seen taking his cap from the rack at his British base Lt. Col. (Pilot) Charles E. Marion is commander of his group in the U.S. Air Force and has taken part in 11 raids on the Hun. Educated at Michigan University he has made the Army his career and at 32 years of age holds the Silver Star and Air Medal. His home is with his parents at 1020 Harvard Road, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Lt. Col. Marion is married. U.71. Not to be published before 20th April 1943.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
"Lead crew on bombing mission to Rennes, France, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 8 March 1943." Rear L-R: Capt Walter M. Soha, S/Sgt Ward M. Kirkpatrick, 1Lt Samuel H. Anderson, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch, Lt Col Charles E. Marion. Front L-R: T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, S/Sgt Durward L Hinds, S/Sgt George W. Henderson.
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.
Commanding Officer 303rd Bomb Group 13-Feb-43 to 19-Jul-43.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
DFC/ AM w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | Major | Group Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 358BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.
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Division
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...
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
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)
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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...
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...
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 ...
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...
4 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Born | San Diego, California | 10 July 1910 |
| Assigned to Unit | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
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Assigned as a Piolot with the 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with rank of Major. |
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| Mission #1, MAJ Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24559 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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Served as Command Lead Pilot on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #2, MAJ Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24580 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Command Lead Pilot 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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| Promotion in Rank | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 January 1943 |
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Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Deputy Commander 303BG |
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| Mission #3, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Command Lead Pilot on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 |
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Served as Co-Pilot on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Group Command Pilot on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Brest, France | 27 February 1943 |
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Served as Group Command Pilot 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 #7, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 |
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Served as Group Command Pilot 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 #8, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 |
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Served as Group Command Pilot on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #9, LTC Charles E. Marion, w/B-17F 41-24605, 303BG/359BS | Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 |
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Served as Group Command Pilot on B-17F 41-24605 "Knockout Dropper", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 03 March 2016 21:45:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Corrected target on Mission #9., |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 21:43:02 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 21:35:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 21:31:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #7 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 |
| 03 March 2016 21:28:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 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 |
| 03 March 2016 21:10:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Made corrections to A/C BS designations in Missions#4 & #5. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 February 2016 21:46:12 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 February 2016 21:42:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 February 2016 21:32:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 27-Jan-43 and 4-Feb-43 pere 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 February 2016 23:51:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 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 |
| 13 February 2016 23:46:47 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 February 2016 23:44:21 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-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 |
| 13 February 2016 23:40:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 February 2016 23:36:00 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG website Gary Moncur, historian, 303BG Personnel Records http://www.303rdbg.com/rost-m.html#M |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 February 2016 23:32:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment inof to Summary Biography; Made connections to AIrcraft (thorugh 23-Jan-43) and Missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, 303BG Personnel Roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/rost-m.html#M |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 November 2014 20:06:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to awards |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Decorations http://www.303rdbg.com/h-awards.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 November 2014 19:58:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to service number |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Service number http://www.303rdbg.com/rost-m.html#M |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 November 2014 19:54:26 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to place associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Connection to Molesworth. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 November 2014 19:52:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to role, biography and awards |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Description, assoications http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/303bg.HTM |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:05:35 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 |
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