This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: July 22nd

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 22 Jul 2026 15:42:51 -0000

July 22, 1942
In preparation for combat, training reached a new high today with 36 training flights completed.

July 22, 1943
8th AF: The results of the first phase of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) are good according to a report of the British Joint Intelligence Commit-tee. The report maintains the CBO has caused Germany to adopt a defensive air strategy resulting in more than half its fighter strength being employed on the Western Front at the expense of the Eastern and Mediter-ranean Fronts as well as causing considerable damage to transportation, the synthetic rubber industry, and the fuel, iron, and coal industries of the Ruhr.

July 22, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 488: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel, Germany; 1 B-17s is damaged. Escort is provided by 27 of 34 P-51s; 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is KIA. Mission 489: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in France and the Netherlands during the night. 44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.