This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: November 1st

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 01 Nov 2026 01:33:52 -0000

November 1, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: A progress report, assessing results of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO), estimates that 19 important German towns and cities have been virtually destroyed, 19 severely damaged and 9 more effectively damaged. A joint report of the British Ministry of Economic Warfare and Air Ministry lntelligence Branch claims that 10 percent of the total war potential of Germany has been destroyed. HQ 92nd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) is activated at Polebrook, England. HQ 93rd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) is activated at Horsham St. Faith, England. HQ 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Deenethorpe,England from the U.S.

November 1, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 265
Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Refinery at Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 48
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 5 minutes
Bomb Load: 20 x 250 lb H.E. M57 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 28,600, 28,100 & 26,900 ft
Ammo Fired: 5,300 rounds

November 1, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: 2 missions are flown. Mission 696: 324 bombers and 321 fighters are dispatched to attack 2 synthetic oil plants near Gelsenkirchen and a bridge at Rudesheim, Germany; 1 P-51 is lost: 1. 142 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Norstern oil plant at Gelsenkirchen (113); 23 hit the secondary, the Hamm marshalling yard; 1 hits a target of opportunity; 24 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is provided by 140 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 2. 143 of 144 B-24s hit the Buer oil plant at Gelsenkirchen; 25 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 109 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. 3. 38 B-17s are dispatched to hit a railroad bridge at Rudesheim (13); 24 hit the secondary, a marshalling yard at Koblenz; 7 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 37 of 38 P-51s. Mission 697: 3 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands during the night.