This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: June 17th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 17 Jun 2026 06:03:39 -0000

June 17, 1942
ETO 8th AF: 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th AF, arrives at Molesworth, England from the US with F-4s; first mission is in Nov 42.

June 17, 1943
303rd BG: Heavy rains and overcast prevented any flying.

June 17, 1943
8th AF: HQ 4th Air Defense Wing transfers from Debden, England to Saffron Walden, England. This unit will be redesignated 65th Fighter Wing on 7 Aug 43. The 567th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Hethel, England from the US with B-24's.

June 17, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Targets in France, primarily airfields, are hit; 2 B-17s are lost; fighters fly 1,027 sorties during the day and destroy 15 locomotives, train cars, trucks and other vehicles. Mission 418: 232 of 332 bombers attack targets in France: 1. Of 174 B-17s, 52 hit Monchy-Breton Airfield, 31 hit a railroad bridge at Noyen, 18 hit Chateaudun Airfield and 18 hit Villiers/L'Eveque Airfield; 2 B-17s are lost and 22 damaged; 22 airmen are MIA; escort is provided by 43 P-38s, 39 P-47s and 90 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA). 2. Of 158 B-24s, 28 hit Laval Airfield, 26 hit Guyancourt/Caudron Airfield, 18 hit Le Mans/Arnage Airfield, 17 hit Bretigny Airfield, 12 hit Brunnelles, 9 hit Melun Airfield, 1 hits Dreux, 1 hits St Valery and 1 hits a target of opportunity; escort is provided by 87 P-47s and 170 P-51s; they claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 3-0-0 on the ground; no losses or casualties. 99 P-38s fly fighter-bomber missions against railroad bridges at Corbie and Peronne; 4 P-38s are lost (pilots are MIA). Mission 419: Of 312 B-24s dispatched, 80 hit Angers Airfield, 75 hit Laval Airfield, 55 hit Tours Airfield, 38 hit Essay airstrip, 25 hit Lonray airstrip and 1 hits LeMans; 1 B-24 is lost and 35 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 122 P-47s and 148 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA). 49 P-38s and 39 P-47s, escorted by 47 P-38s, make fighter-bomber attacks on Corbie-Peronne railroad bridges; 2 P-38s are lost (pilots are MIA). Mission 420: 9 of 10 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

June 17, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 524th, 525th, 526th and 527th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Casablanca, French Morocco with B-17s to move troops from France to N Africa.