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

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 13 Jun 2026 07:11:50 -0000

June 13, 1942
ETO 8th AF: HQ 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Polebrook, England from US.

June 13, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 42
Target: Submarine Slips, Bremen, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 27
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb G.P. bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 26,000 ft & 27,700 ft
Ammo Fired: 16,595 rounds

June 13, 1943
8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 63: 151 B-17's are dispatched against the Bremen, Germany U-boat yards; 122 hit the target claiming 2-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 4 and 31 are damaged; casualties are 8 WIA and 32 MIA. A smaller force of 76 B-17's is dispatched against the Kiel, Germany U-boat yards; 60 hit the target and claim 39-5-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 22, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 23 are damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 20 WIA and 213 MIA. Heaviest fighter attacks to date against 8th AF accounts for 26 B-17's, mostly of the force attacking Kiel. HQ 13th Bombardment Wing (Medium) transfers from Marks Hall, England to Camp Blainey, England. The 331st, 332nd, 333rd and 410th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 94th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfer with B-17's from Earls Colne, England to Bury St Edmunds, England. The 338th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers with B-17's from Great Saling, England to Snetterton Heath, England.

June 13, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 179
Target: Airdrome at Evreux, France
Crews Dispatched: 40
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Bomb Load: 500 lb G.P. M-43 & 250 lb G.P. M-57 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 21,800 ft & 21,000 ft

June 13, 1944
First German V-1 rocket attack on Britain.

June 13, 1944
The first V-1 "buzz bomb" lands in S England; more land during the night of 13/14 Jun, and throughout the rest of the month.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Bad weather cancels large-scale bombing of high priority targets in Germany; overcast bombing against tactical targets in NW France is undertaken: Mission 409: In the first mission of the day cloud cover is less than anticipated and visual runs are made by 129 of 139 B-17s against Evreux/Fauville Airfield (37 bomb), Dreux Airfield (52 bomb) and St Andre de L'Eure (40 bomb); 30 B-17s are damaged; escort is provided by 101 of 113 P-51s dispatched; they claim 4-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft. Mission 410: In the second mission, 112 B-17s and 260 B-24s are dispatched: 1. B-17s to Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield (41 bomb) and Beauvais/Nivelliers Airfield (56 bomb); 15 B-17s are damaged. 2. 148 B-24s to Dinard/Pleurtuit Airfield (10 bomb), Ploermel Bridge (26 bomb), Vannes Bride (19 bomb), Vicomte-sur-Rance Bridge (24 bomb), Montfort-sur-Meu Bridge (21 bomb), Porcaro Bridge (12 bomb) and 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 16 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 19 MIA. Escort for Mission 410 is provided by 12 P-38s, 47 P-47s and 174 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and the pilot is MIA. Other fighter sorties during the day are: 1. 97 P-38s are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions (58 bomb) and 17 hit La Poissonniere Montjean; 2 P-38s are lost and the pilots are MIA. 2. 199 P-47s are dispatched to La Port Boulet (90 attack), Montlouis (24 attack), transport targets (33 attack) and Chinon (31 attack); they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are MIA. 3. 35 P-51s fly escort for fighter bombers. 4. 12 P-38s and 35 P-47s escort Ninth Air Force bombers. 5. 62 of 64 P-38s fly patrol over the English Channel. Mission 411: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets on France during the night. 6 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions over France.

June 13, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Unit moves in England: HQ 14th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Shipdham to Bury St Edmunds and HQ 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) from Hardwick to Snetterton Heath.