This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: September 1st

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 01 Sep 2026 16:36:58 -0000

September 1, 1942
ETO 8th AF: During Jul, the following units arrive in England from the US: HQ 51st Troop Carrier Wing at Greenham Common.

September 1, 1943
8th AF: The 506th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), ceases operating from Benina, Libya with B-24's and returns to its base at Shipdham, England.

September 1, 1944
303rd BG: Group Commanding Officer Col Kermit D. Stevens returned to the USA on leave. LtCol Lewis E. Lyle assumed command of the 303rd BG (H) during Col Stevens' absence.

September 1, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: 3 missions are flown. 1. Mission 595: 679 B-17s and 294 B-24s are dispatched to hit Ludwigshafen, Haguenan, Gustavsburg, Mainz and Hallach, Germany and Foret de Haguenan, France; high clouds are encountered over France and the mission is recalled; 1 B-17 bombs Hallach; 2 B-17s and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 5 B-17s are damaged; 30 airmen are KIA and 2 WIA. Escort is provided by 508 P-38s and P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA. 2. Mission 597: 12 of 12 Azon-equipped B-24s hit the Ravenstein rail bridge, the Netherlands without loss. Escort is provided by 15 of 15 P-51s. 3. Mission 599: 3 of 3 B-17s fly a Micro H mission to attack a fuel dump in the Bois del la Haussiere, Belgium without loss. Escort is provided by 2 of 2 P-51s. VIII Fighter Command fighter-bomber missions: 1. 265 of 273 P-47s attack railroads in N and NE France; they claim 5-0-2 aircraft on the ground; 3 P-47s are lost (pilots are MIA), 1 damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged. 2. 33 of 33 attack targets in the Brussels, Belgium area without loss. 31 of 44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.