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

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 22 May 2026 12:00:12 -0000

May 22, 1943
8th AF: The 451st Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 322nd Bombardment Group (Medium) transfers with B-26C's from Rattlesden, England to Rougham, England.

May 22, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 157
Target: Port area, Kiel, Germany (PFF)
Crews Dispatched: 14
Crew Members Lost or Wounded: 1 wounded by flak
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 50 minutes
Bomb Load: 40 x 65 lb M-47A1 Incendiary bombs
Bombing Altitude: 24,300 ft
Ammo Fired: 220 rounds

May 22, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Occupancy of all planned 8th AF stations in Britain is completed with the transfer of the airfield at N Pickenham from the RAF to the Eighth; total stations number 77, including 66 airfields, occupied by 82 operational or HQ units. Mission 361: 438 bombers and 568 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks to targets in Germany and France; 5 bombers and 7 fighters are lost: 1. 342 are dispatched to the port area at Kiel, Germany; 289 hit the primary and 5 bomb targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 209 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 78 MIA. 2. 94 of 96 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Siracourt, France; 1 B-24 is damaged. Escort is provided by 145 P-38s, 95 P-47s and 328 P-51s; P-38s claim 8-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft, P-47s claim 12-1-2 and P-51s claim 2-2-1; 3 P-38s, 3 P-47s and a P-51 are lost; 1 P-38 and 2 P-47s are damaged beyond repair; 1 P-38, 2 P-47s and a P-51 are damaged; 6 pilots are MIA. 130 P-47s are dispatched on a fighter-bomber attack railroad bridges at Hasselt and Liege, Belgium; 1 P-47 is lost and 1 damaged. Mission 363: 4 of 4 B-17s drop 320,000 leaflets on The Hague, Haarlem, Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands without loss. 12 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.