This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: June 19th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 19 Jun 2026 23:05:32 -0000

June 19, 1943
8th AF: During the month of June, the 40th Bombardment Wing arrives at Brampton Grange, England from the US.

June 19, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 184
Target: Military Installations at Fiefs & Predefin, France
Crews Dispatched: 20
Crew Members Lost or Wounded: 6 crewmen wounded by flak
Length of Mission: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Bomb Load: 36 x 100 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitude: 25,500 & 25,000 ft

June 19, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 185
Target: Military Installations at Fiefs & Predefin, France
Crews Dispatched: 40
Length of Mission: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Bomb Load: 36 x 100 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitude: 24,500 ft

June 19, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Morning and afternoon missions are made against targets in France. Mission 423: In the morning, 464 B-17s are dispatched against airfields in the Bordeaux area: 92 hit Cormes Ecluse, 84 hit Bordeaux/Merignac, 39 hit Cazaux, 34 hit Landes-de-Bussac, 12 hit Cabanac and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 11 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 59 MIA; escort is provided by 88 P-38s and 261 P-51s; 4 P-38s and 6 P-51s are lost (all pilots MIA). Mission 424: In both morning and afternoon missions, 216 of 391 B-17s and 294 of 312 B-24s hit 35 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 B-24 damaged beyond repair and 65 B-17s and 22 B-24s damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 196 P-38s, 122 P-47s and 48 P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; 1 P-38 group, after completing escort duty, dive-bombs and strafes transportation targets in NE France, destroying a locomotive and 3 barges. 858th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VIII Air Force Composite Command, moves from North Pickenham to Cheddington, England with B-24s (the squadron begins flying leaflet missions).

June 19, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins a movement from Horham, England to the US.