This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 17th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 17 Oct 2025 20:34:06 -0000

October 17, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 258
Target: Military Installations at Cologne, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 34
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 40 minutes
Bomb Loading: 34 x 100 lb H.E. M30 & 2 x 500 lb M17 Incendiary
Bombing Altitudes: 24,100, 23,350 & 22,600 ft
Ammo Fired: 510 rounds

October 17, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 681: 1,338 bombers and 811 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks in the Cologne, Germany area; 4 bombers and 1 fighter are lost: 1. 465 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Eifeltor (216) and Cologne/Gremberg (34); targets of opportunity are Cologne/Kalk marshalling yard (151) and other (2); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 263 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 6 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 274 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 2. 453 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Gereon (295) and Cologne/Kalk (142); 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 150 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 10 WIA and 37 MIA. Escort is provided by 271 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 3. 430 B-24s are dispatched to hit a chemical plant at Leverkusen but weather prevents the attack; targets of opportunity hit are the Cologne/Gereon (231) and Cologne/Kalk (179) marshalling yards; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 73 damaged. Escort is provided by 229 P-47s and P-51s.