12-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu".
Participated in 16 Missions (UNDER CONSTRUCTION). See Biography events.
Service
Units served with
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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...
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Aircraft
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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...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42.
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Missions
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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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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
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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...
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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...
Associated Place
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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...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA |
12 June 1942 |
Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.
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Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
22 October 1942 |
Arrived at Molesworth, UK as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS.
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Mission #1, SGT Alvin A. Bridges, w/B17-F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS |
Lille, France |
6 December 1942 |
Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #2, SGT Alvin A. Bridges, w/B17-F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France |
12 December 1942 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshallinbg yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.
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Mission #3, SGT Alvin A. Bridges, w/B17-F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS |
Lorient, France |
30 December 1942 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #4, SGT Alvin A. Bridges, w/B17-F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS |
Lorient, France |
23 January 1943 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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