This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: July 12th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 12 Jul 2026 08:18:27 -0000

July 12, 1942
ETO 8th AF: 6 of 6 Bostons borrowed from the RAF hit Abbeville/Drucat Airfield, France; 2 aircraft are damaged; no casualties. The 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) stands down after this mission to prepare their own Bostons which are ex-RAF machines.

July 12, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 202
Target: City area, Munich, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 40
Length of Mission: 9 hours, 22 minutes
Bomb Load: 4 x 500 lb G.P. M43 & 6 x 500 M17 Incendiary bombs
Bombing Altitudes: Group A - 27,100 ft; Group B - 25,900 ft

July 12, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 468: 131 B-24s, escorted by by 144 Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires, are dispatched to bomb 10 CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites in the Rouen area but abort because of a thick blanket of low cloud over the target area; no losses. Mission 469: 1,271 bombers and 803 fighters are dispatched to bomb Munich, Germany; 1,124 bombers bomb the city of Munich, 16 hit Enstingen and 10 hit targets of opportunity; 24 bombers are lost, 4 are damaged beyond repair and 297 are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 216 MIA. Escort is provided by 717 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair (pilot is WIA). Mission 470: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.

July 12, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 95th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) begins a movement from Kettingham, England to the US.