8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Walter Michael Soha
Military
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"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.
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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 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 Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S]"S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar".
Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medal.
Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korean and Vietnam wars, rising to rank of Lt Colonel.
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. ... -
41-24584 Susfu
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... -
41-24610 Joe Btfsplk II
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42. ... -
41-24619 S-for-Sugar
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... -
42-2966
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.
Missions
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VIII Bomber Command 21
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... -
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 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 27
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... -
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... -
VIII Fighter Command CIRCUS 257
2 February 1943
4th Fighter Group participates in two operations on this date: 24 Spitfires are despatched to support and escort 12 RAF Venturas on RAF Circus 257; 9 Spitfires are despatched on routing ship patrols. -
VIII Bomber Command 33
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...
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... -
Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Crystal Falls, Michigan | 10 February 1917 |
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Son of Michael and Sophie Barbara [Dubiel] Soha. |
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| Enlisted | Wausau, WI | 8 October 1941 |
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Wausau, Wisconsin |
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| Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
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Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-25619 "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 Molesworth, UK, aboard and as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS |
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| Mission #1, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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Served as Navigator of 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, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Lorient, France, but mechanical failures force the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator of 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, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator of 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, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Navigator of 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, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #7, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #8, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator of B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the formation. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #8, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Asnabruck, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Died | Melbourne, FL | 17 November 2003 |
| Buried | Arlington National Cemetery | 21 November 2003 |
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Arlington National Cemetery |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 01 March 2020 17:33:57 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, service number, biography, awards, events and place associations |
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https://www.fold3.com/image/312122432 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 February 2020 04:21:07 | 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 |
| 20 March 2018 19:31:12 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Key Image ID. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 23:06:57 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 221-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 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 |
| 21 February 2016 23:04:02 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 221-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 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 |
| 21 February 2016 22:58:31 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Made connections to 42-2966 and 41-24610 and Missions of 2-Feb-43 and 4-Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 February 2016 18:52:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Corrected Mission Event designations and dates on Mission event #6 and #7. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 09 January 2016 23:13:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #7 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 |
| 09 January 2016 23:11:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-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 |
| 09 January 2016 23:08:57 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 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 |
| 09 January 2016 23:02:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-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 |
| 09 January 2016 23:00:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 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 |
| 09 January 2016 22:57:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-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 |
| 09 January 2016 22:54:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 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 |
| 09 January 2016 22:49:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-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 |
| 09 January 2016 22:46:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Assisgned to Aircraft 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 |
| 09 January 2016 22:43:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added initial assigment to Summary Biography,; made connections to place, aircraft (through 23-Jan-43); and missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:26:53 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Self, http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R |
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