John Farrar
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Pilot of 42-5260 "Yardbird II" on 4-Apr-43. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth UK. He was despatched on 26 Operations - 25 credited. Served as a Lead Navigator on 23 of those missions. Completed a 25-Mission tour on 15-May-43.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Pilot of 42-5260 "Yardbird II" on 4-Apr-43. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Major | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Enlisted in the Air Corps long before the war and graduated as a Pilot from the Kelly Field Flying School, earning his 2nd Lieutenant wings in 1939. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant and ultimately to Major in the 303rd Bomb Group. Flew on many missions, some...
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...
Group
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 41-24579 "Thumper" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] 17-Feb-42 Gowen Field, Idaho; Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Aircraft damaged by AA fire and enemy fighters on mission to Lorient, France on 23-Jan-43. 11 man crew. Belly-landed 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...
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...
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...
23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
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.
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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.
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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 ...
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...
14 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are once again slated at the primary target for this mission. A force of 74 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (17); 305BG (17); 306BG (20), but weather once again forces the mission to be recalled before...
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 |
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Born | ||
Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 17 February 1942 |
Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 42-24579 "Thumper", 303BG.360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 |
Arrived at Molesworth, UK as the Navigator aboard B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS. |
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Mission #1, 2LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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Mission #2, 2LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #3, 2LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 |
Served as Lead Navigator of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #4, 2LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #5, 2LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24562, 303BG/358BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator on B-17F 41-24562 "Sky Wolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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Promotion in Rank | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 January 1943 |
Effective 1-Jan-43 promoted in rank to 1st Lieutenant. |
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Mission #6, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator 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 #7, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Five Locomotive Works at Lille, France. |
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Mission #8, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F #41-24610 "Joe BTFSPLK" 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #9, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of 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 #10, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar" 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303G formation. |
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Mission #11, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Sojer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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Mission #12, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 |
Served as an Observer on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Sojer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
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Mission #13, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Sojer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #14, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #15, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK. |
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Mission #16, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Sojer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
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Mission #17, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Sojer" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
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Mission #17, 1LT Samuel H. Anderson, w/B-17F 41-29570, 303BG/360BS | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 |
Served as Lead Group Navigator of B-17F 42-29570 "Big Time Operator II" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
Date | Contributor | Update |
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29 February 2020 02:44:44 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
29 February 2020 02:14:06 | jmoore43 | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Added a space and "#" in a event to aid clarity. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2016 22:17:35 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #18 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2016 22:14:14 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #17 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 22:12:03 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2016 22:08:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #15 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 |
03 March 2016 22:03:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #14 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 22:00:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2016 21:57:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-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 |
25 February 2016 18:11:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
25 February 2016 18:08:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
25 February 2016 17:36:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to mission associations |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Made connections to missions of 14-Feb-43, 16-Feb-43 and 4-Mar-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian. http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
21 February 2016 22:50:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 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 |
21 February 2016 22:42:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-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 |
21 February 2016 22:38:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 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 |
21 February 2016 22:31:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Renumbered Mission #5 to #$7 and added new Mission #5 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 |
21 February 2016 22:25:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to unit associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Made connections to all Units (BS), Aircraft and Missions (through 27-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; John A Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html. That crew page indicated that he flew a mission (303BG #6) on 12-Dec-42 BUT the Mission Report for that date does not indicate he flew that mission. May have been confuced with William Anderson of 358BG. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 February 2016 19:56:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-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 |
02 February 2016 19:51:29 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Promotion event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 February 2016 19:49:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 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 |
02 February 2016 19:46:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 February 2016 19:44:03 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 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 |
02 February 2016 19:40:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-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 |
02 February 2016 19:33:29 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 February 2016 19:31:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added Assigend to AIrcraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 February 2016 19:29:48 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Feb-2016. Added initial Assignment and arrival in UK info to Summary Biography as well as combat tour infor; made connections to Place, AIrcraft (through 23-Jan-43) and Missions (through 13-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:24:59 | AAM | AAM ingest |
Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster |