This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: October 25th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 25 Oct 2026 02:02:07 -0000

October 25, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 262
Target: Marshalling Yard at Hamm, Germany
Crews Dispatched: 39
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Bomb Load: 18 x 250 lb H.E. M57 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 28,600, 28,100 & 27,100 ft
Ammo Fired: 2,620 rounds

October 25, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 688: 1,250 bombers and 522 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and industrial targets in W Germany; 2 bombers and 1 fighter are lost; the first three forces use H2X while the 4th and 5th use GH: 1. 455 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg (221) and Rhenania oil refineries (214) at Hamburg; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 94 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 129 of 139 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair. 2. 225 B-24s are dispatched to hit Neumunster Airfield (216); targets of opportunity are Munster (3) and Utersum (1); no losses. Escort is provided by 41 of 42 P-51s without loss. 3. 297 B-17s dispatched to hit the primary hit secondaries, Harburg (179) and Rhenania oil refineries (106) at Hamburg; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 16 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 221 of 255 P-51s without loss. 4. 131 B-17s are dispatched to hit synthetic oil targets at Gelsenkirchen/Nordstern (27); 100 others hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hamm; 49 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 50 of 50 P-47s without loss. 5. 142 B-24s are dispatched to hit synthetic oil targets at Scholven/Buer (91); 34 hit the secondary at Munster and 1 hits Gronua; 39 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 34 of 36 P-47s without loss.