This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: July 13th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 13 Jul 2026 14:52:13 -0000

July 13, 1942
303rd BG: Col James H. Wallace was appointed as 303rd BG(H) Commanding Officer

July 13, 1942
ETO 8th AF: HQ 52nd Fighter Group arrives at Eglinton, Co. Derry, Ireland from the US.

July 13, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 203
Target: City area, Munich, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 38
Crews Lost: Lt. Long, 9 Interned
Length of Mission: 9 hours
Bomb Load: 4 x 500 lb G.P. M43 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: Group A - 22,500 ft; Group B - 19,500 ft

July 13, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 471: 1,043 bombers and 609 fighters in 3 forces are dispatched to bomb targets in Germany; 10 bombers and 5 fighters are lost: 1. Of 399 B-17s, 356 bomb Munich, 6 bomb the railroad at Munich and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 156 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is provided by 292 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 1 P-47 are lost. 2. Of 278 B-17s, 139 bomb Munich, 100 hit an aircraft engine plant at Munich and 3 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 11-4-8 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17s are lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 129 damaged; 9 airmen are WIA and 50 MIA. Escort is provided by 170 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair. 3. Of 366 B-24s, 298 hit Saarbrucken marshalling yards and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 31 damaged; 23 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 19 MIA. Escort is provided by 81 of 85 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair. 28 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

July 13, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Unit moves in England: HQ 92nd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Elveden Hall to the US. The 652nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy, Weather Reconnaissance), 1st Air Division, from Watton to Alconbury, England with B-17s (the squadron flies weather reconnaissance missions in the ETO).