This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: July 23rd

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 23 Jul 2026 03:51:52 -0000

July 23, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 210
Target: Airdrome at Creil, France
Crews Dispatched: 38
Crews Lost: Lt. Morgan, all Rescued; Lt. Miller, 1 KIA, 7 BO
Length of Mission: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Bomb Load: 38 x 100 lb G.P. M30 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 26,750, 24,700 & 23,400 ft

July 23, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 490: 280 bombers and 193 fighters are dispatched to attack airfields in France; 1 bomber is lost: 1. 78 of 82 B-17s hit Creil Airfield; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA. 2. Of 198 B-24s, 61 hit Laon/Couvron Airfield, 57 hit Laon/Athies Airfield and 48 hit Juvincourt Airfield; 3 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 2 WIA. Escort for both groups above is provided by 177 P-38s and P-51s. Mission 491: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night. 21 of 25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

July 23, 1945
VIII Fighter Command: Unit moves in England: HQ 4th Fighter Group and 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons from Debden to Steeple Morden with P-51s; HQ 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) begins a movement from Watton to the US.