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Military
"Crew of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Yardbird Ii". 303rd Bomb Group, England. 15 May 1943." Rear L-R: Kenneth C Hassler, Lewis E Lyle, Rictor H Auman, John W Farrar, Milton S Fonorow , Samuel H Anderson. Front L-R: Frank W Bartlett, Paul H Prescott, Lincoln T O'Connell, Erick K. Lindewall, Joseph R Sunderlin.
12-Feb-42 Assigned to 303BG as an Aerial Gunner at Arrived at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 12-Jun-42 Trained at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo New Mexico. 7-Aug-42 Finished Advanced training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 24-Aug-42 transferred with Ground Eschelon to Fort Dix, New Jersey in preparation for deployment. 5-Sep-42 boarded the Queen Mary for England. 10-Sep-42 arrived at Greenock, UK. 12-Sep-42 arrived at Molesworth, UK.
3-Jan-43 First mission as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird" 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France.
29-May-43 Shot down in B-17 41-24602 "Yardbird" while serving as Tail Gunner on 7th raid over St. Nazaire, France on 26th mission. Spent 6 weeks in the Hermann Goering Luftwaaen Lazarette, transferred to German Prisoner of War (POW) camp Stalag VIIA at Moosburg, Germany. 13-Oct-43 moved to Stalag XVIIB at Braunau-Geinkendorf (near Krems), Austria was in first group of American Prisoner of War (POW)s exchanged. Arrived in NY 22-Sep-44, medical discharge 30 August 1945
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
DFC w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ GC/ POW
5 Me 109s
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 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24602 was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-A] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; On the 29-May-43 mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France the aircraft was damaged by flak over the target and then attacked and shot down by fighters...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 26/10/42; Salina 15/12/42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 29/11/42; Morrison 6/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Molesworth 25/2/43; took off from RAF Kenley following previous day’s raid, but involved in landing accident at RAF North Luffenham after getting lost en route to base 15/10/43;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/12/42; Salina 10/1/43; Homestead 17/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] Molesworth 7/3/43 RED ASS; transferred 427BS; 5m* Missing in Action Bremen 29/11/43 with Finis Brumbeloe, Co-pilot: Donnell Marsh, Navigator: Jim Groves, Flight...
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...
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...
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...
16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....
26 February 1943
After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities...
27 February 1943
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG ...
6 March 1943
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a...
8 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rennes and Rouen, France are the primary targets for this mission. A formation comprised of 67 B-17s: 91BG (14); 303BG (19); 305BG (16) and 306BG (18) is despatched to bomb at Rennes. Conditions are good with no cloud...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Catlettsburg, Kentucky | 23 March 1923 |
| Assigned to Unit | Boise, ID, USA | 12 February 1942 |
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Assogned as an Aerial Gunner with the 303BG at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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| Arrived in UK | Greenock, Inverclyde, UK | 10 September 1942 |
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Arrived with the Ground Eschelon at Greenock, UK aboard the Queen Mary. |
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| Arrived at Station | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 12 September 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK with 303BG/360BS Ground Eschelon. |
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| Mission #1, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #2, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS | 23 January 1943 | |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorinet, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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| Mission #5, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severes cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #7, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #8, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Brest, France | 27 February 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #9, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #10, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5393, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5393 "Thumper Again", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Rennes, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #11, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #12, SGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
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| Promoted in Rank | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 15 March 1943 |
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Promoted in Rank to Staff Sergeant. |
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| Mission #13, SSGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS | Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5483 "Red Ass", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yrads at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #14, SSGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
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| Mission #15, SSGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #16, SSGT Frank W. Bartlett, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 |
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Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 08 March 2016 20:55:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:54:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:52:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:49:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:46:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:42:45 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:30:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:26:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:24:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:22:06 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:18:35 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #9 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:15:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:13:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 20:11:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #6 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:07:06 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #5 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:03:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #4 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 |
| 08 March 2016 20:00:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #3 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 |
| 08 March 2016 19:58:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 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 |
| 08 March 2016 19:55:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 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 |
| 08 March 2016 19:44:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Addded Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 19:43:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Addded Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 19:26:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG webite, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 March 2016 19:22:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Mar-2016. Completed all inforamtion in 1st paragraph, added first mission, added POW locations and dates to Summary Biography. Made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 31-Mar-43), Missions (through 31-Mar-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John W. Farrar crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-farrar.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:10:11 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self, Roll of Honor |
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