This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: May 21st

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 21 May 2026 09:27:29 -0000

May 21, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 39
Target: Marinwerke Submarine Pens, Wilhelmshaven, Ger.
Crews Dispatched: 19
Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb M-43 G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitude: 24,400 ft
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 55 minutes
Ammo Fired: 44,295 rounds
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 8 Destroyed, 2 Probables, 3 Damaged

May 21, 1943
8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 60: 98 B-17's are dispatched against the U-boat yards at Wilhelmshaven, Germany; 77 hit the target at 1244-1245 hours local; we claim 47-5-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 7 B-17's with another 24 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 9 WIA and 60 MIA. A second, smaller strike of 63 B-17's is dispatched against the U-boat yards at Emden, Germany; 46 bomb the target at 1244-1246 hours local; we claim 31-6-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 5 B-17's with 2 others damaged beyond repair and 9 others damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 5 WIA and 50 MIA. At Wilhelmshaven German fighters are reported firing rockets. VIII Fighter Command Field Order Number 105: 105 P-47's are dispatched on a fighter sweep in the Ostend/Ghent area; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 3 and all pilots are listed as MIA. HQ 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Kimbolton, England from the US.

May 21, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 360: 150 bombers and 48 fighters hit V-weapon sites in France without loss; 25 of 40 B-17s hit Marquise/Mimoyecques and 13 B-17s are damaged; 99 of 110 B-24s hit Siracourt and 1 B-24 is damaged. Escort is provided by 48 P-47s without loss. 617 fighters are dispatched on strafing missions to attack rail stock in Germany; 27 fighters are lost; 91 of 225 locomotives attacked are destroyed; P-47s also dive bomb rail bridges in W Germany; and 1 P-51 pilot claims 25 cows killed; participating are: 1. 145 P-38s claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 6-0-3 on the ground; 8 P-38s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 12 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 8 MIA. 2. 139 P-47s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air; 4 P-47s are lost and 21 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA. 3. 333 P-51s claim 17-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 77-0-64 on the ground; 15 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 20 damaged; 15 pilots are MIA.

May 21, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 482nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) begins a movement from Alconbury, England to the US.