This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: February 18th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 18 Feb 2026 11:07:24 -0000

February 18, 1943
8th AF: Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group fly 26 uneventful sorties during the day on shipping and defensive patrols.

February 18, 1944
303rd BG: Col Kermit Stevens issued an order after an 8th AF directive that names of targets written on airplanes must be removed. Some crews had been marking the names of the targets on their planes. If the plane were to go down in enemy territory, the information on the plane could be of great value to enemy interrogators.

February 18, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: HQ 8th AF issues orders to establish a photographic reconnaissance wing [8th Reconnaissance Wing (Provisional)] in Cheddington. The purpose is to make the Eighth independent in aerial reconnaissance and to consolidate the efforts of units presently engaged in this and related activities. Colonel Elliott Roosevelt, the President's son and currently Director of Reconnaissance for the Ninth Air Force, is named Commanding Officer.