This Day in 303rd Bomb Group History: July 9th

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 09 Jul 2026 04:04:10 -0000

July 9, 1942
ETO 8th AF: 7 P-38s arrive in the UK via the N Atlantic route, this being the first time single-seater USAAF aircraft have flown this route.

July 9, 1943
8th AF: HQ 56th Fighter Group and its 63rd Fighter Squadron with P-47D's transfer from Horsham St Faith, England to Halesworth, England. HQ 355th Fighter Group arrives at Steeple Morden, England from the US to join the three squadrons that arrived yesterday.

July 9, 1944
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 200
Target: Airdrome at Chateaudun, France
Crews Dispatched: 39
Length of Mission: 6 hours
Bomb Load: 2 x 2,000 lb G.P. M34 bombs
Bombing Altitudes: 26,000, 25,000 & 24,500 ft
The 303rd BG(H) was the first 8th AF Bomb Group to complete 200 missions.

July 9, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 462: during a morning mission 150 B-17s are dispatched to bomb bridges and airfields in France but cloud cover causes the bombers to hit targets of opportunity; 68 hit Chalonnes Bridge, 36 hit Chateaudun Airfield, 12 hit Bouchemaine Bridge, 12 hit Chalonnes highway bridge and 12 hit Le Creusot Bridge; 1 B-17 is lost and 10 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 155 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (1 pilot is MIA). Mission 463: 104 B-24s and 77 B-17s are dispatched to hit CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites in France but encounters poor weather; Only 37 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites; 12 B-17s hit St Omber Longuenesse Airfield and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 60 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 158 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft. 90 of 96 P-38s strafe the Moulin-Nevers-Tour area claiming 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA). Mission 464: During the night, 5 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France. 37 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.