This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 19th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 19 Oct 2026 01:50:53 -0000

October 19, 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 359th Fighter Group and its 369th Fighter Squadron arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with P-47's. The group will fly its first mission on 13 Dec 43.

October 19, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 260
Target: Heinrich Lanz A.G. Tractor and Tank Works at Mannheim,
Germany
Crews Dispatched: 35
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 48 minutes
Bomb Load: 6 x 500 lb H.E. M45 & 6 x 500 lb M17 Incendiaries
Bombing Altitudes: 28,400 & 28,100 ft
Ammo Fired: 1,830 rounds

October 19, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: 2 missions are flown. Mission 683: 1,022 bombers and 753 fighters attack targets in Germany using PFF or GH; 6 bombers and 2 fighters are lost: 1. 381 B-24s are dispatched to hit the diesel engine and armored vehicle plant at Gustavsburg (50) and the Mainz marshalling yard (280) the secondary target; 5 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 148 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA and 49 MIA. Escort is provided by 195 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 217 of 267 B-17s hit the secondary target, Mannheim; 34 others hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 97 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 286 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). 3. 374 B-17s are dispatched to hit an artillery tractor plant at Mannheim (25); 257 hit the secondary, Mannheim; targets of opportunity are Karlsruhe (32), Kreuznach (10), Rudesheim (9), Bad Kreuznach (8), Steyer (2) and other (21); 182 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 4 WIA. Escort is provided by 226 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair. Mission 684: 5 B-17s and 5 B-24s are dispatched to drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.