Military
"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.
![A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 42-2966), after a raid on Germany.
From left to right they are:
Sergeant Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Montana);
Technical Sergeant Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, California);
First Lieutenant Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio);
Second Lieutenant John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa), Co-Pilot;
Captain B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio), Pilot;
Sergeant Jack Belk (Temple, Texas);
Sergeant William Fleming (Burdine, Kentucky);
First Lieutenant Jon R. Schueler (Milwaukee, Wisconsin);
Technical Sergeant Edward J. Doughty (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania);
and Technical Sergeant Waldo B. Brandt (Denver, Indiana).
Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Mar 1943.' [stamp] and USA (BRI) CCC.' [annotiation] Printed caption on reverse: 'BT.4323D The crew of one of the Flying Fortresses of the U.S.Army Air Corps which carried out their first raid on Germany. Sergt. Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Mont.) T/Sgt Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, Cal.) 1 Lt Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio) 2nd Lt. John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa) Co-Pilot Capt B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio) Pilot Sgt. Jack Belk (Temple, Tex.) Sgt. William Fleming (Burdine, KY) 1st Lt. Jon R. Schueler (Milwaukee, Wis.) T/Sgt Edward J. Doughty (Philadelphia, Penn.), T/Sgt Waldo B. Brandt (Denver, Ind). Censor No.245872.'](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-378865.jpg?itok=JiFmM18e)
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 42-2966), after a raid on Germany. From left to right they are: Sergeant Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Montana); Technical Sergeant Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, California); First Lieutenant Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio); Second Lieutenant John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa), Co-Pilot; Captain B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio), Pilot; Sergeant Jack Belk (Temple, Texas); Sergeant William Fleming (Burdine, Kentucky); First Lieutenant Jon R. Schueler (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Technical Sergeant Edward J. Doughty (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); and Technical Sergeant Waldo B. Brandt (Denver, Indiana). Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Mar 1943.' [stamp] and USA (BRI) CCC.' [annotiation] Printed caption on reverse: 'BT.4323D The crew of one of the Flying Fortresses of the U.S.Army Air Corps which carried out their first raid on Germany. Sergt. Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Mont.) T/Sgt Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, Cal.) 1 Lt Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio) 2nd Lt. John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa) Co-Pilot Capt B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio) Pilot Sgt. Jack Belk (Temple, Tex.) Sgt. William Fleming (Burdine, KY) 1st Lt. Jon R. Schueler (Milwaukee, Wis.) T/Sgt Edward J. Doughty (Philadelphia, Penn.), T/Sgt Waldo B. Brandt (Denver, Ind). Censor No.245872.'
![A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the insignia on the men's jackets. Passed as censored 29 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American Raid On Germany. Flying Fortresses And Liberators Of The U.S. Army Air Corps Carried Out Their First Raid On Germany On Wednesday Last. O.P.S., Left To Right: Sergt. Ward W. Kirkpatrick, (Kalispele, Mont.); T/Sgt. Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, Cal.); 1st Lt. Milton K. Conver, (Cincinnatti, Ohio); 2nd Lt. John W. Dillinger, (Avoca, Iowa), co-pilot; Capt. B.B. Southworth, (Columbus, Ohio), pilot; Sgt. Jack Belk, (Temple, Tex.); Sgt. William Fleming, (Burdine, K.Y.); 1st Lt. Jon R. Schueler, (Milwaukee, Wis.); T/Sgt. Edward J. Doughty, (Phiadelphia, Penn.); T/Sgt. Waldo B. Brandt, (Denver, Ind.). Barratt's. 29/1/43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, Barratt's Photo Press Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-407571.jpg?itok=q9MtDJMo)
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the insignia on the men's jackets. Passed as censored 29 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American Raid On Germany. Flying Fortresses And Liberators Of The U.S. Army Air Corps Carried Out Their First Raid On Germany On Wednesday Last. O.P.S., Left To Right: Sergt. Ward W. Kirkpatrick, (Kalispele, Mont.); T/Sgt. Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, Cal.); 1st Lt. Milton K. Conver, (Cincinnatti, Ohio); 2nd Lt. John W. Dillinger, (Avoca, Iowa), co-pilot; Capt. B.B. Southworth, (Columbus, Ohio), pilot; Sgt. Jack Belk, (Temple, Tex.); Sgt. William Fleming, (Burdine, K.Y.); 1st Lt. Jon R. Schueler, (Milwaukee, Wis.); T/Sgt. Edward J. Doughty, (Phiadelphia, Penn.); T/Sgt. Waldo B. Brandt, (Denver, Ind.). Barratt's. 29/1/43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, Barratt's Photo Press Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at Molesworth, UK. He may have been assigned to some type of ground duty and only flew as a substitute for other gunners on various B-17s of 427BS.
Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
William Brooks 'Billy' Southworth Jr was son of Major League baseball player and manager Billy Southworth. Over three seasons from 1938-1940 Southworth enjoyed a successful career as an international league baseball player and was in 1939 honoured as...
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-P] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42; Missing in Action 45m Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George McClellan, Co-pilot: Bill Fisher, ex B-26 pilot on his 1st mission, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Tempesta, Radio Operator...
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.
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...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lived in | Temple, TX, USA | 1941 |
| Assigned to Unit | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
|
Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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| Mission #1, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Tail 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 Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24587 "Bad Check", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
|
Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Rommilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24587 "Bad Check", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
|
Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24587 "Bad Check", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #7, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 |
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Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #8, SGT Jack Belk, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24587 "Bad Check" 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 20 March 2018 19:33:59 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Key Image ID. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 09 March 2017 15:37:01 | Al_Skiff | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Key Image ID from FRE 997. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 09 March 2017 14:18:07 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Key Image ID from FRE 997. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 February 2016 22:39:46 | 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 22:36:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 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 22:32:43 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Made connections to 41-24610 and 42-2966 and Missions of 27-Jan-43 and 4 Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 January 2016 23:54:48 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-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 |
| 20 January 2016 23:52:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 January 2016 23:49:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 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 |
| 20 January 2016 23:47:06 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 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 |
| 20 January 2016 23:44:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-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 |
| 20 January 2016 23:41:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-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 |
| 20 January 2016 23:37:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, 303BG personnel roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 January 2016 23:35:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jan-2016. Added Summary Biography; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43), Missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian, 303BG personnel roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:13:43 | 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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