This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: November 6th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 06 Nov 2026 07:47:06 -0000

November 6, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 123. 2 B-17's drop 440,000 leaflets over Paris at 0241-0250 hours. The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 8th AF, arrives at Alconbury, England from the U.S. The squadron will begin flying CARPETBAGGER missions in Dec 43.

November 6, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 269
Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery at Bottrup, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 46
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 40 minutes
Bomb Load: 18 x 250 lb H.E. M57 bombs
Bombing Altitude: 28,700 ft
Ammo Fired: 5,905 rounds

November 6, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 704: 1,131 bombers and 802 fighters in 6 forces make PFF attacks on the oil industry in W Germany; 5 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. 291 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg (142) and Rhenania (138) oil refineries at Hamburg; 3 others hit the Lubeck oil refinery at Hamburg; 4 B-17s are lost and 103 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is 238 of 258 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to hit the aviation industry at Neumunster (23); 231 hit the secondary, the Neumunster marshalling yard; 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 10 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is 93 of 102 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 3. 215 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Mittelland Canal at Minden; 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 31 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. 43 of 44 P-47s escort without loss. 4. 101 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bottrop oil refinery; 12 others hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hamm; 39 B-17s are damaged. 257 of 271 P-51s escort without loss. 5. 143 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Sterkrade oil refinery (134); 1 other hit Vreden; 27 B-24s are damaged. 40 of 43 P-51s escort claiming 0-0-1 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA). 6. 119 B-17s are dispatched to hit the benzol oil plant at Duisburg (65); 43 hit a target of opportunity, the marshalling yard at Rheydt; 18 B-17s are damaged. 51 of 54 P-47s escort without loss. 30 P-51s of the Scouting Forces patrol the area without loss.