8th Air Force
Command
Dale F Brandfas
Military
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"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.
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"Lead crew on bombing mission pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 5 April 1943." Rear L-R: Lt Col George L Robinson, Capt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Major Frank J Doherty Front L-R: T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Joe Ray Gray, T/Sgt James C. Baart, S/Sgt Robert K Sink, S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa
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"Lead crew on the 303rd Bomb Group, England, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 18 March 1943." Rear L-R: Capt Walter M. Soha, Col George L. Robinson, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch. Front L-R: S/Sgt Delvyn Smith, T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, Sgt Ward M. Kirkpatrick, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, Sgt George W. Henderson.
1-May-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Memphis Tot"
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Service
Units served with
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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... -
427th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Aircraft
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41-24569 Memphis Tot
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. ...
Missions
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VIII Bomber Command 22
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... -
VIII Bomber Command 24
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. ... -
VIII Bomber Command 25
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... -
VIII Bomber Command 26
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. ... -
VIII Bomber Command 29
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 ... -
VIII Bomber Command 30
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...
Associated Place
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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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| Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
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Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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| Re-assigned to Aircraft | Bangor, ME, USA | 12 October 1942 |
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Re-assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. |
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| Arrived in UK | 22 October 1942 | |
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Arrived at Molesworth, as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS. |
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| Mission #1, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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| Mission #2, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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| Mission #3, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards ar Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German ai depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 20 March 2018 20:29:52 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Key Image ID. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 23:50:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-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 |
| 22 February 2016 23:47:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 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 |
| 22 February 2016 23:45:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 23:43:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 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 |
| 22 February 2016 23:41:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 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 |
| 22 February 2016 23:39:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 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 |
| 22 February 2016 23:35:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 23:33:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Re-Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 23:30:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 23:27:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and re-assignment and arrival in UK infot to Summary Biography; Made connections to Place, AIrcraft (through 4-Feb-42) and Missions (through 4-Feb-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:06:48 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster |
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