This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 2nd

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 02 Oct 2026 02:50:52 -0000

October 2, 1942
ETO 8th AF: Mission 13: 61 bombers and 54 fighters are dispatched to attack 3 targets in France; 1 fighter is lost: 1. 32 of 43 B-17s dispatched hit the Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte; they claim 4-9-5 aircraft; 6 B-17s are damaged; 3 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 31 P-38s; 1 P-38 is lost. 2. 6 of 6 B-17s fly a diversionary missions to St Omer/Longuenesse Airfield; they claim 5-4-4 aircraft. Escort is provided by 23 Spitfires; they claim 4-0-1 aircraft without loss. 3. 11 of 12 unescorted DB-7s attack a ship in a dock at Le Havre without loss.

October 2, 1943
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 73
Target: Port Area & Dock Facilities, Emden, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 20
Crews Lost: 1Lt. Paul Tippet, 11 crew KIA, 1 minor casualty
Length of Mission: 5 hours, 40 minutes
Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. bombs + 16 bundles of nickels
Bombing Altitude: 23,500 ft
Ammo Fired: 10,915 rounds
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 1 Destroyed, 1 Probable

October 2, 1943
8th AF: VIII Bomber Command Mission 106: 349 B-17's are dispatched to the industrial area of Emden, Germany; led by 2 B-17 pathfinders, 339 hit the target at 1557-1603 hours; they claim 15-6-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 B-17's are lost and 34 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 21 MIA. The B-17's are escorted by 227 P-47's who claim 5-3-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged. In addition to the above, 21 B-24's are dispatched to Woensdrecht Airfield, The Netherlands; the target is obscured by clouds and the mission is aborted. VIII Air Support Command Mission 75: 72 B-26's are dispatched to the St Omer/Longuenesse Airfield in France; because of cloud cover, only 6 hit the target at 1715 hours; the remainder refrain from bombing because the target is in occupied territory; 12 B-26's are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 WIA. VIII Bomber Command Mission 107: 2 B-17's join the Royal Air Force (RAF) in a night mission to Munich; no losses or casualties.

October 2, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 249
Target: Ford Motor Transport Plant, Cologne, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 38
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 40 minutes
Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb G.P. M43 & 10 x 500 lb M17 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 27,600, 27,500 & 27,100 ft
Ammo Fired: 1,870 rounds

October 2, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: 4 missions are flown: Mission 658: 887 B-17s and 549 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on industrial targets at Cologne and Kassel, Germany; 2 B-17s are lost: 1. 305 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bettenhausen ordnance depot at Kassel (129); targets of opportunity are Kassel (143), Fritzlar Airfield (12) and other (1); 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 89 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 228 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 2. 458 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Henschel motor vehicle plant at Kassel (384); targets of opportunity are Wiesbaden (31), Gesecke (9) and other (17); 2 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 16 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 219 P-47s and P-51s without loss. 3. 110 of 124 B-17s hit the Ford motor vehicle plant at Cologne; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged. Escort is provided by 53 P-47s and P-51s without loss. Mission 659: 308 B-24s are dispatched to make a PFF attack on the marshalling yard at Hamm (266); targets of opportunity are Handorf Airfield (29) and Munster (1); 2 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 144 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 212 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA), 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is KIA. Mission 660: 2 B-17s, escorted by 15 P-51s, drop leaflets on Dutch islands during the day. Mission 661: 5 B-24s and 3 B-17s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.