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Military
![Staff Sergeant Edward Z. Harmon of the 303rd Bomb Group checks the gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24619). Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943.
Printed caption on reverse: 'S/Sgt. Edward Z. Harmon, gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, examines the sights of his gun before another raid. He has already been on 14, and holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. He comes from Tule Lake, Cal., and is 33 years old. He formerly worked as a tunneller. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Harmon, live at Mangum, Okla. U.53. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.' On reverse: 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-407563.jpg?itok=RFzv3LYh)
Staff Sergeant Edward Z. Harmon of the 303rd Bomb Group checks the gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24619). Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'S/Sgt. Edward Z. Harmon, gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, examines the sights of his gun before another raid. He has already been on 14, and holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. He comes from Tule Lake, Cal., and is 33 years old. He formerly worked as a tunneller. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Harmon, live at Mangum, Okla. U.53. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
"Lead crew on bombing mission to Meaulte, France, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 13 May 1943." Rear L-R: Maj Glenn E Hagenbuch, Capt Albert W Dieffenbach, Capt Walter M Soha, Capt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Edgar E Snyder Jr. Front L-R: S/Sgt Waldo B Brandt, T/Sgt Edward J Doughty, S/Sgt Jack Belk, T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, S/Sgt Edward Z Harmon, S/Sgt George W Henderson.
"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.
"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
"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 an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S], "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with the rank of Sergeant. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar."
Mission Paricipations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
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
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 41-24584 "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
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-S] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 25-Oct-42; 52m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11-Jan- 44 with Tom Simmons, Co-pilot: Fred Reichel, Navigator: Bill Clyatt, Bombardier: Dick Vaughan, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Wallace...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-U] Bangor 16/9/42; Molesworth 28/10/42; 1 CCRC Bovingdon 4/7/43 as trainer. Salvaged in the UK after the war, date not recorded.
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.
...
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.
...
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...
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...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
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Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK as an Aerial Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS. |
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| Mission #1, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner 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, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 |
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Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven Germany. RTB OK |
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| Mission #7, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe cold and weather force Wing Command to recall the formation. |
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| Mission #7, SGT Edward Z. Harmon, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 February 2020 03:32:21 | 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 |
| 23 February 2016 22:55:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016., Added Mission #8 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 |
| 23 February 2016 22:53:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016., Added Mission #7 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 |
| 23 February 2016 22:49:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016., Added Mission #6 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 |
| 23 February 2016 22:44:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Mde connections to 41-24610 and 42-2966 and Missions of 27-Jan-43, 2-Feb-43 and 4Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 February 2016 23:39:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2016. Corrected crew position on Mission #5 event per 303BG Mission Report of 30-Dec-42:http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:29:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunnungham 19-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:26:31 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunnungham 19-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:24:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunnungham 19-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:21:50 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunnungham 19-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:18:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunnungham 19-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 January 2016 21:14:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-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 |
| 19 January 2016 21:12:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Jan-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft 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 |
| 19 January 2016 21:10:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to highest rank, biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Jan-2016. Added initial assignment info to Summary Biography; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43), missions (through 23-Jan-43) 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 |
| 30 September 2014 14:05:54 | PhillWray | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated image from Freeman Collection image caption information. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:08:39 | 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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