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

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 21 Aug 2026 09:34:00 -0000

August 21, 1942
ETO 8th AF: At General Henry H "HAP" Arnold's request, Lieutenant General Dwight D Eisenhower gives Major General Carl Spaatz additional duties as Air Officer for the ETO and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring active participation by the 8th AF in theater planning. Mission 4: 12 B-17s are dispatched to the bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, The Netherlands but the mission is aborted due to an attack by 25 Bf 109s and Fw 190s; the bombers claim 2-5-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 bomber is damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 5 WIA. Lack of proper coordination with the Spitfire escorts is a major factor in the failure of the mission. HQ VIII Ground Air Support Command moves from Bushy Park to Membury, England.

August 21, 1943
303rd BG: No mission was scheduled. Capt Barrett was appointed head of Group S-2 Intelligence.