This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: April 6th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 06 Apr 2026 11:30:22 -0000

April 6, 1941
Nazis invade Greece and Yugoslavia.

April 6, 1943
303rd BG: Lord Trenchard and Air Vice Marshall Tedder, accompanied by Generals Eaker, Longfellow and Armstrong, visited Molesworth.

April 6, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 290: 12 of 12 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Watten, France without loss. Escort is provided by 27 P-47s without loss.

April 6, 1945
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 353
Target: Main Marshalling Yard at Leipzig, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 39
Crews Lost: 2Lt. Alderman, 8 KIA; 2Lt. Lacker, 9 KIA
Length of Mission: 9 hours, 19 minutes
Bomb Load: 32 x 100 lb G.P. & 2 x 500 lb M17 Incendiary bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 26,000, 24,800 & 26,600 feet

April 6, 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 930: 659 bombers hit rail targets in the Leipzig, Germany area using H2X radar; 4 B-17s and 1 P-51 are lost: 1. 183 of 207 B-24s hit the marshalling yard at Halle; 22 others hit Eisleben, a target of opportunity; 3 B-24s are damaged. Escorting are 201 P-47s and P-51s. 2. 430 of 452 B-17s hit secondary targets, the main station and marshalling yard at Leipzig (321) and hit Gera (109); 11 others hit the marshalling yard at Halle; 4 B-17s are lost and 2 damaged beyond repair; 17 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 33 MIA. The escort is 392 of 410 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 3. 26 of 27 P-51s fly scouting missions. 4. 11 P-51s escort 5 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions. During the night, 3 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.