This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 8th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 08 Oct 2026 06:42:23 -0000

October 8, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 75
Target: Center of City, Bremen, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 21
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 45 minutes
Bomb Load: 42 x 65 lb M47A2 Incendiary bombs
Bombing Altitude: 28,900 ft
Ammo Fired: 9,700 rounds
Black Week - 8-14 Oct 1943

October 8, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 111. 4 locations in Germany are targetted. On this mission the 8th AFs uses, for the first time, airborne transmitters (Carpet equipment) to jam German radar. 30 bombers and 3 fighters are lost. 1. 105 of 118 B-17's dispatched to the shipyard at Breman hit the target at 1505-1513 hours; they claim 42-2-28 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17's are lost and 61 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 90 MIA. 2. 53 of 56 B-17's dispatched to the industrial area at Breman hit the target at 1512-1513 hours; they claim 24-7-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17's are lost and 44 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 12 WIA and 41 MIA. 3. 43 of 55 B-24's dispatched to the U-boat yards at Vegesack hit the target at 1622-1624 hours; they claim 17-1-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24's are lost and 21 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 5 WIA and 30 MIA. 4. 156 of 170 B-17's dispatched to the city of Bremen hit the target and targets of opportunity at 1505-1527 hours; they claim 84-12-33 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 110 damaged; casualties are 21 WIA and 140 MIA. The B-17's are escorted by 274 P-47's; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-47's are lost and 5 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 3 MIA. VIII Air Support Command Mission 80: 144 B-26's are dispatched to Lille/Vendeville and Chievres Airfields in France; the mission is abandoned due to thick haze and generally unsuitable weather; 4 B-26's are damaged. VIII Bomber Command Mission 112: 2 B-17's drop 266,336 leaflets over Rennes at 0005-0011 hours, 9 Oct 43.