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

glm@303rdbg.com (Gary L. Moncur) — 25 Sep 2026 06:17:55 -0000

September 25, 1943
303rd BG: A second PFF practice mission was staged using the new Pathfinder techniques. I was generally considered a success.

September 25, 1943
8th AF: VIII Air Support Command Mission 71: 68 of 72 B-26's hit St Omer/Longuenesse Airfield at 1717-1718 hours; 4 B-26's are damaged.

September 25, 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 8th AF: Mission 647: 1,306 bombers and 622 fighters are dispatched to attack marshalling yards in W Germany and the synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen bombed by PFF; 5 bombers and 3 fighters are lost: 1. 534 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Ludwigshafen/Opau oil plant and the marshalling yard at Ludwigshafen (400); 46 others hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 86 damaged; 9 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 200 of 216 P-51s without loss. 2. 444 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Frankfurt industrial area (410); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 41 damaged; 18 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 210 P-38s and P-51s; 2 fighters are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged. 3. 257 of 328 B-24s hit the Koblenz/Mosel and Koblenz/Rhein marshalling yards; 14 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 157 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-0-2 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged. 176 B-24s on a TRUCKIN' mission fly fuel to France; 1 B-24 is lost.

September 25, 1944
All 1st Bomb Division Bomb Groups, except the 303rd BG (H), bombed the Frankfurt, Germany area. The 303rd BG stood down to recover from their 2nd Anniversary Party.