Nk 1 358th bomb squadron bn 2 359th bomb squadron pu 3 360th bomb squadron. During world war ii, the 303rd was one of the first viii bomber command b17 flying fortress units in england. The 303rd air expeditionary group is a provisional united states air force unit. Further, the 303rd flew more missions from england 364than any other bomb group. Trained and flew patrols off the west coast, first in b17s and later in b24s. Jan 30, 2017 aircraft and airmen of 8th af 303rd bomb group. B17f, 8th air force, 4124577, 303rd bomber group, hell. The 15th was originally part of the 27th bombardment group light, assigned to fifth air force in the philippine islands.
Eighth air force, 19 january 1942 22 february 1944 viii bomber command, 19 august 1942. Donald stoulil, b17 pilot, 8th af, 303rd bg, 359th sq. Mar 06, 2016 the 303rd bomb group heavy flew a total of 364 missions from raf molesworth, comprising 10,271 sorties. The first usaaf tenant on molesworth was the 15th bombardment squadron, arriving on 9 june 1942 from raf grafton underwood. The men who worked together to keep the plane flying over hitlers occupied europe, those of the u. Aug 06, 2001 during world war ii, there was a famed b17 aircraft named hells angels. As part of the joint usaafraf objective to eradicate the buzz bomb threat, 303rd crews attacked 12 sites between 28 february and 30 august 1944 at altitudes of 12,000 and 14,000 feet. Usaaf ww2 b17 bomber hells angels, 48 missions, 8x10 in flight photo, 303rd bg, raf molesworth, england. Presentations to the 8th air force historical society of minnesota including transcripts. Ltcr stout has produced another excellent look at an 8th air force group at war. A monument to the 303rd bg stands inside the main entrance and is accessible to the public. Ssg leroy shorty mace, ball tturret gunner, 359th bs303rd bomb group out of molesworth. Usaaf ww2 b17 bomber hells angels 48 missions 8x10 in. Nov 02, 2019 ssg leroy shorty mace, ball tturret gunner, 359th bs 303rd bomb group out of molesworth.
He also served one and a half years during the korean war. Jay stouts book covers the groups history from formation through to the wars end. He received the distinguished flying cross, air medal with three oak leaf clusters and a distinguished unit citation. Assigned 358th bombardment squadron, heavy vk feb 03, 1942 command. The 303rd was one of the first groups to deploy to england and eventually flew more missions than any other bomb group in the 8th. The unit was first activated as the 303rd bombardment group in february 1942. Molesworth u s air force 303rd bomb group war imperial war. A tired and haggard captain harold stouse in the 427th. He was a member of the 303rd bomb group, hells angels, flying from molesworth, england. The 303rd bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group that took part in the eighth air forces strategic bombing campaign from 1942 until the end of the war in europe. Great hand painted cartoon character patch from the 360th bomb squadron who were part of the 303rd bomb group based at molesworth during ww2, flying the b17 flying fortress the group known as hells angels flew 10,721 sorties on 364 missions losing 165 aircraft in action.
The squadron flew the douglas boston iii light bomber. Molesworth reverted to raf control in 1945 and was closed in 1946. Nk 1 358th bomb squadron bn 2 359th bomb squadron pu 3 360th bomb squadron gn 4 427th bomb squadron. On 31 may 1945, the 303d bomb group left molesworth, moving to casablanca, french morocco. Their wartime exploits would go down in history, relegating the 303rd as one of the most famous heavy bombardment units of wwii, where they achieved legendary status as the hells angels group. Constituted as 307th bombardment group heavy on 28 jan 1942. The bombers shot down a confirmed 378 aircraft with 104 additional aircraft as probables. They dubbed them selves the hells angels,their motto might in flight,flew 364 combat missions. In 2011, it was assigned to united states air forces europe to activate or inactivate as needed the unit was first activated as the 303rd bombardment group in february 1942. Staffsergeant jack e snell of the 303rd bomb group meets the duke and duchess of gloucester and colonel hubert zemke of the 56th fighter group. He was the last of over 26,000 members of the 8th air force to be killed in action.
Taking its name from a 1930 howard hughes movie, hell s angels was assigned to the 358th bomb squadron, part of the 303rd bombardment group heavy based at molesworth in huntingdonshire, england from 194245. Lewis lyle commanded one of the 303rds squadrons before becoming the groups deputy commander. While it is far from perfect, the ability to choose how to live your life is the. He rests with his crewmates in fort scott, ks, where steffie and i visited several weeks ago. We have accomplished some good things here, said stellpflug, who was photographed amid a smiling group of iraqi children. But, the glcm mission was shortlived as in 1987 the united states and the former soviet union signed the intermediaterange nuclear forces treaty, which led to the removal.
Assigned 303rd bombardment group, heavy feb 03, 1942 command. Molesworth u s air force 303rd bomb group war imperial. I think the greatest accomplishment is giving the people a choice to live in a democracy and enjoy freedoms they never had before. This website was made possible thanks to generous contributions from 100th bomb group veterans g. Second air force, 4 september 19416 october 1943 ii bomber command, 3 february 1942. February 3, 1942 at pendleton army air base, usa combat training. Raf molesworth control tower, taken on 28 september 1944, with wing staff waiting on the return of the 303d bombardment group from a mission. See more ideas about nose art, wwii and ww2 planes. Boeing b17 flying fortress miss umbriago 4297187 of. Home about us contact us donate newsletters 8th afhs links faq facebook search personnel aircraft nose art b17 thunderbird ground support uniforms journals more info mission reports combat crews individual photos photos pow kia macr overseas graves taps heritage of the 303rd bomb group h compiled by harry d. The group finally assembled at molesworth and flew its first combat mission on 17nov1942. Hells angels 303rd bomb group h molesworth, england. Heritage of the 303rd bomb group h compiled by harry d.
Heritage of the 303rd bomb group h molesworth, england. C triangle symbol 303rd bg squadrons identification codes and numbers. Its carries group triangle c tail markings on the tail. The 303rd bomb group was an eighth air force, b17 bomber group stationed at molesworth, england from 1942 to 1945. The 303rd bomb group had 5,292 combat crewmen between 1942 and 1945. Attached 303rd bombardment group, heavy feb 01, 1943 command. Part of 3rd air force, raf mildenhall, england, reported to headquarters, useucom, ramstein air base, west germany. Of the many us bomb groups that took up home in england from 19421945, the 303rd undertook the most missions from their base at molesworth. Dec 23, 2014 the 303rd bomb group heavy flew a total of 364 missions from raf molesworth, comprising 10,271 sorties. B17g of the 303rd bomb group 359th bomb squadron world. They arrived at molesworth, england, on 9 september 1942. Arriving at molesworth on the 9th september 1942, the 303rd were assigned to the 8th air force, and were one of the first american bomber groups to arrive in england to join the british in the bombing campaign against germany.
The ground was activated in the united states in february 1942 with no squadrons, gaining its four squadron in the following month. Note lockheedvega b17g60ve fortress 448328 359th bombardment squadron code bn parked next to tower. Air force 303rd bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran. However the groups planes a24s, did not arrive by 7 december 1941, and due to the. He was assigned to 395th squadron, 303rd bomb group, molesworth, england where he flew 31 missions, including two over dday. Missiles deployed to raf molesworth in 1986, and the 303rd tactical missile wing, supported by the 87th tactical missile squadron, was activated in december that same year.
B17f 303rd bomb group knock out dropper molesworth. Flying fortresses358th squadron the 303rd bomb group was an eighth air force, b17 bomber group stationed at molesworth, england. Keith ferris print, b17 flying fortress slowtiming. Raf molesworth and the 303rd bombardment group heavy. This b17, assigned to the 427th bomb squadron of the 303rd bomb group hells angels, departed biggs field, texas at 1. Arriving at molesworth, england on 9 september 1942, the 303rd was assigned to the 8th air force, being one of the very first american heavy. Col ret eddie deerfield returns to molesworth to talk about his experiences flying 30 missions in b17s during ww2. B17f 303rd bomb group knock out dropper molesworth england. American military patches, other insignia and decorations of world war two by dr. These historical pages are dedicated to the 8,960 men who served in the 303rd bombardment group h hells angels during world war ii. They assembled at gowen field, idaho on 11february 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12jun1942. B17f, 8th air force, 4124577, 303rd bomber group, hells.
Raf molesworths ground launched cruise missiles 25 years. The 303rd bombardment group h was constituted on 28 january 1942 at savannah, ga, was activated at pendleton field, pendleton, or, on 3 february 1942, and received its initial staff and training at gowen field, boise, id, on february 1942. Royal air force molesworth or more simply raf molesworth is a royal air force station located. The 303rd bombardment group was activated in february 1942 as a boeing b17 flying fortress heavy bomber group at pendleton field, oregon and assigned the 358th, 359th and 360th bombardment squadrons and the 31st reconnaissance squadron. The 303rd bomb group heavy flew a total of 364 missions from raf molesworth, comprising 10,271 sorties. During world war ii, there was a famed b17 aircraft named hells angels. In 2011, it was assigned to united states air forces europe to activate or inactivate as needed. As the title says, this time he looks at the 303rd bombardment group heavy. Their motto, might in flight, was earned on each of their record 364 combat missions. In january 1944 the 303rd bgh adopted the name of hell s angels in tribute to one of its most famous planes. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, molesworth is most associated with the 303rd bomb group, popularly known as hells angels which moved in with its b17s in september 1942 and remained at the base until june 1945.
Molesworth, norfolk england station 107 group tail code. The 303rd bombardment group heavy was activated on 3feb1942 at pendleton field, oregon. Raf molesworths ground launched cruise missiles 25. James fulks was a co pilot in the 360th squadron of the 303rd and was part of the james t hahn crew. Pictured above is fulks and his crew he is standing third from the left next to the crews pilot james hahn picture of fulks taken stateside. Additional fees may apply for euro, south america and africa countries. Brians wwii surplus and antiques store wwii patch, aaf. Wwii aac aaf squadron insignia patch page 2 units above 200. B17g of the 303rd bomb group 359th bomb squadron world war. On 11 january 1944, leading the first division, the 303rd hit oschersleben, germany, after most of the 8th air force and its fighter escort had aborted due to.