Combat in the European Theater

Due to the haste to move heavy bombers to Europe, the squadron was insufficiently trained for combat^[5] and it continued to train in England until it entered combat on 17 November 1942^[4] in a strike against Saint-Nazaire, but returned without striking, having been unable to locate its target. It attacked Saint-Nazaire the following day, although its intended target was La Pallice.^[6] Its initial raids were on airfields, railroads and submarine pens in France. As a unit of one of only four Flying Fortress groups in VIII Bomber Command during late 1942 and early 1943, the squadron participated in the development of the tactics that would be used throughout the air campaign against Germany.^[7]

In 1943, the squadron began flying missions to Germany, participating in the first attack by American heavy bombers on a target in Germany, a raid on the submarine yards at Wilhelmshaven on 27 January 1943. From that time, it concentrated primarily on strategic bombardment of German industry, marshalling yards, and other strategic targets, including the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, shipyards at Bremen and an aircraft engine factory at Hamburg.^[3]

Lt Mathis' B-17 after the mission of 18 March 1943^{[note 1]}

Flying through intense flak on a mission against Bremen-Vegesack on 18 March 1943, in which bombing was to be done by squadrons, 1st Lieutenant Jack W. Mathis, was bombardier on the lead aircraft of the 359th. Less than a minute before bomb release, he was knocked nine feet back from his bombsight. Although Lt Mathis was mortally wounded, he returned to his position to release his bombs and ensure the squadron struck its target, dying as he toggled the bomb release. For this action, Lt Mathis was awarded the Medal of Honor^[3][8]

The 359th received a Distinguished Unit Citation when adverse weather on 11 January 1944 prevented its fighter cover from joining the group, exposing it to continuous attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. Despite this opposition, the unit successfully struck an aircraft assembly plant at Oschersleben.^[3]

Although a strategic bombing unit, the squadron was diverted on occasion to close air support and interdiction for ground forces. It attacked gun emplacements and bridges in the Pas-de-Calais during Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, in June 1944; bombed enemy troops during Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo, and during the Battle of the Bulge. It bombed military installations near Wesel during Operation Lumberjack, the Allied assault across the Rhine. Its last combat mission was an attack on 25 April 1945 against an armament factory at Pilsen (now Plzeň).^[3]

Following VE Day in May 1945 the 303d Group was reassigned to the North African Division, Air Transport Command and moved to Casablanca Airfield, French Morocco to use its B-17 bombers as transports, ferrying personnel from France to Morocco. However, the two B-17 groups moved to Casablanca proved surplus to Air Transport Command's needs and the squadron was inactivated in late July 1945 and its planes ferried back to the United States.^[3][4]

Strategic Air Command

Activated in the postwar Strategic Air Command in 1947 at Andrews Field, Maryland, but not equipped and inactivated in September 1948. Activated again at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona in September 1951 and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers.

Reactivated in 1951 as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bomber squadron; aircraft not received until April 1953 when squadron received first production block of B-47Es. Conducted routine deployments and training during the 1950s and early 1960s. Inactivated in 1964 with the phaseout of the B-47.

Assignments

• 303d Bombardment Group, 3 February 1942 – 25 July 1945
• 303d Bombardment Group, 1 July 1947 – 6 September 1948
• 303d Bombardment Group, 4 September 1951
• 303d Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 15 June 1964

Stations

• Pendleton Field, Oregon, 3 February 1942
• Gowen Field, Idaho, 13 March 13, 1942

Operated from Muroc Army Air Field, California, 28 May – c. 14 June 1942)

• Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 18 June 1942
• Biggs Field, Texas, 7–22 August 1942
• RAF Molesworth (AAF-107),^[10] England, 12 September 1942
• Casablanca Airfield, French Morocco, c. 31 May – 25 July 1945
• Andrews Field (later Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 1 July 1947 – 6 September 1948
• Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 4 September 1951 – 15 June 1964

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1951–1953
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1953–1964

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	11 January 1944 Germany	[1]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1961–31 March 1962	[1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Antisubmarine	3 February 1942 – June 142	[1]
	Air Offensive, Europe	12 September 1942 – 5 June 1944	[1]
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	[1]
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	[1]
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	[1]
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945	[1]
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	[1]
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	12 September 1942 – 11 May 1945	[1]

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Albertson, Bill (2004). I Flew with Hell's Angels: Thirty-Six Combat Missions in a B-17 "Flying Fortress": 1944–1945. Westminster, Md: Heritage Books. ISBN 078843506X.
• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-1987-7.