303rd Bomber Group
Hell's Angels
Squadrons of the 303rd BG
358th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy359th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
360th Bombardment Squadron -Heavy
427th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
Assigned 8th AAF: 10 Sep 1942
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII BC, 1 BW 10 Sep 1942
VIII BC, 1 BW, 102 PCBW Feb 1943
VIII BC, 1 BW, 103 PCBW May 1943
VIII BC, 1 BD, 41 CBW 13 Sep 1943
1 BD, 40 CBW 8 Jan 1944
1 AD, 40 CBW 1 Jan 1945
VIII BC, 1 BW, 102 PCBW Feb 1943
VIII BC, 1 BW, 103 PCBW May 1943
VIII BC, 1 BD, 41 CBW 13 Sep 1943
1 BD, 40 CBW 8 Jan 1944
1 AD, 40 CBW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-17F
B-17G
B-17G
Stations
MOLESWORTH 12 September 1942 to 11 Jun 1945
Group COs
Col. James H. Wallace 13 Jul 1942 to 12 Feb 1943
Col. Charles E. Marion 13 Feb 1943 to 19 Jul 1943
Col. Kermit D. Stevens 19 Jul 1943 to 1 Sep 1944
Col. William C. Raper 29 Oct 1944 to 19 Apr 1945
Lt. Col William C. Sipes 19 Apr 1945 to 11 Jun 1945
First Mission: 17 Nov 1942
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 364
Total Sorties: 10,721
Total Bomb Tonnage: 24,918 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 165
Col. Charles E. Marion 13 Feb 1943 to 19 Jul 1943
Col. Kermit D. Stevens 19 Jul 1943 to 1 Sep 1944
Col. William C. Raper 29 Oct 1944 to 19 Apr 1945
Lt. Col William C. Sipes 19 Apr 1945 to 11 Jun 1945
First Mission: 17 Nov 1942
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 364
Total Sorties: 10,721
Total Bomb Tonnage: 24,918 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 165
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citations:
11 Jan 1944 (All 1 BD groups)
Medal of Honors:
Lt. Jack W. Mathis 18 Mar 1943
T/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler 20 Dec 1943
11 Jan 1944 (All 1 BD groups)
Medal of Honors:
Lt. Jack W. Mathis 18 Mar 1943
T/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler 20 Dec 1943
Claims to Fame
"Hell's Angels" first B-17 in 8AF to complete 25 missions (Jun 1943)
"Knock Out Dropper" first B-17 in 8AF to complete 50, and 75 missions
First 8AF BG to complete 300 missions from the United Kingdom
Flew more missions than any other 8AF Group
Only one other group delivered a greater bomb tonnage
"Knock Out Dropper" first B-17 in 8AF to complete 50, and 75 missions
First 8AF BG to complete 300 missions from the United Kingdom
Flew more missions than any other 8AF Group
Only one other group delivered a greater bomb tonnage
Early History:
Activated 3 February 1942 at Pendleton Field Oregan. Assembled at Gowen Field
Idaho on the 11th of February 1942, where it trained until 12 June 1942. Advance
training at Alamogordo Field NM, until 7 August 1942, when the Group moved to
Biggs Field, Texas, to be readied for overseas duty. The ground unit moved to
Fort Dix, NJ on 24 August 1942. They sailed on they Queen Mary on the 5th of
September 1942, and arrived at Greenock on the 10th of September 1942. The aircraft
flew to Kellogg Field, Michigan then to Dow Field, Maine to start its flight
to England.
Subsequent History:
Scheduled to transport US troops from Europe to North Africa. The group moved
to Casablanca at the end of May 1945 to join the North Africa Division, Air
Transport Command. The group participation was not required and the group was
inactivated on the 25th July 1945 at Casablanca. the aircraft were flown back
to the US. The unit was reactivated in 1951 as a Strategic Air Command B-29
unit and later as the 303rd Bomb Wing and flew B-47s until inactivated in the
early 1960s