This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: June 5th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 05 Jun 2026 06:38:11 -0000

June 5, 1942
ETO 8th AF: VIII Air Force Base Command, activated in the US on 28 Jan 42, is redesignated VIII Air Force Services Command. Colonel Harold A McGinnis assumes command.

June 5, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 171
Target: Gun Emplacements at Azeville, Lessay & Caen, France
Crews Dispatched: 38
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. & 5 S.A.P. bombs
Altitude: 25,000 ft, 24,500 ft, 25,000 ft

June 5, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 392: 423 of 464 B-17s and 203 of 206 B-24s hit coastal defenses in the Le Havre, Caen, Boulogne and Cherbourg, France areas; 4 B-17s and 2 B-24s are lost, 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 37 B-17s and 39 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 10 WIA and 47 MIA. Escorting are 127 P-47s and 245 P-51s; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair. Mission 393: In France, 7 of 8 P-51 fighter-bomber attack a truck convoy near Lille; the 8th P-51 bombs Lille/Vendeville Airfield; no losses. In preparation for D-Day, 3 B-17s fly weather reconnaissance over the UK and the Atlantic Ocean. During the night, 11 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost over Belgium.

June 5, 1944
The use of the word "ship" to designate aircraft was prohibited to avoid confusion with personnel of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.