This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 10th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 10 Oct 2026 09:33:58 -0000

October 10, 1942
8th AF: HQ 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 66th, 67th and 68th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Shipham, England from the US with B-24s (first mission is 7 Nov).

October 10, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 77
Target: Center of city, Coesfeld, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 21
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Bomb Load: 12 x 1,000 lb G.P. plus 38 x MA47A1 Incendiaries
Bombing Altitude: 24,650 ft
Ammo Fired: 7,120 rounds

October 10, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 114. 236 of 274 B-17's hit the railroads and waterways in and around Munster, Germany at 1503-1518 hours plus targets of opportunity at Coesfeld, Germany and Enschede Airfield in the Netherlands; they claim 183-21-51 Luftwaffe aircraft; 30 B-17's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 102 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 18 WIA and 306 MIA. 39 B-24's fly a diversion without loss or casualties. The B-17's are escorted by 216 P-47's; they claim 19-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. The 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, transfers from Goxhill to Martlesham, England with P-47's. The squadron will fly its first mission on 15 Oct.

October 10, 1944
303rd BG: LtCol Lewis E. Lyle, acting Commander of the 303rd BG, became Commanding Officer of the 379th BG at Kimbolton. LtCol Richard H. Cole, 359th BS Commanding Officer, became acting Commander of the 303rd Bomb Group during the continued temporary absence of Col Kermit D. Stevens.