H. Res. 604 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 18, 2007. 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on February 3, 1942, at Pendleton Field, Oregon, 

and trained at Gowen Field, Idaho, from February 11, 

1942, until June 17, 1942; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) was stationed 

in Molesworth, England, and comprised of the 358th 

Bombardment Squadron, the 359th Bombardment 

Squadron, the 360th Bombardment Squadron, and the 

427th Bombardment Squadron; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H), also known as 

‘‘Hell’s Angels’’, arrived at Molesworth, England on September 12, 1942, and bravely fought in World War II; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) support personnel sailed on the Queen Mary on September 5, 1942, 

and arrived at Greenock, Scotland, on September 11, 

1942, the flight crews flew to Kellogg Field, Michigan, 

then to Dow Field, Maine, to start their flights to England across the Atlantic Ocean; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) flew its first 

combat mission on November 17, 1942, and its last mission on April 25, 1945; 
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•HRES 604 EH 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group’s B–17 ‘‘Hell’s Angels’’ was the first to successfully complete 25 combat 

missions on May 13, 1943; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) flew 364 combat missions against enemy targets, the most of any B– 

17 Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force during World War 

II; 

Whereas two 303rd Bombardment Group (H) airmen were 

awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, four were 

awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, 33 were awarded the Silver Star, and approximately 1,200 Purple 

Hearts were awarded for those killed or wounded in action; 

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) adopted the 

motto ‘‘Might in Flight’’ in October 1942 and lived up 

to it on each of their 364 combat missions; 

Whereas 165 aircraft in the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) 

were listed as missing in action (MIA); 

Whereas the original 303rd Bombardment Group (H) was inactivated on July 25, 1945, at Casablanca; 

Whereas the veterans of the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) 

formed the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association in 1975 

to provide opportunities for 303rd veterans, families, and 

friends to meet; 

Whereas the veterans of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association memorialize and perpetuate the memory of 303rd 

Bombardment Group (H) comrades lost during World 

War II, and who have since passed away; 

Whereas due to age and the declining health of the 303rd 

Bombardment Group (H) veterans, the 303rd Bomb 

Group (H) Association Board of Directors has made the 
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difficult decision to dissolve the Association at the end of 

2007; and 

Whereas the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association’s final reunion will be held in Washington, D.C., on September 19, 

2007 through September 23, 2007: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That— 

(1) The dedicated men and women who served in 

the 8th Air Force, 303rd Bombardment Group (H), 

‘‘Hell’s Angels’’, including the nearly 5,000 listed as 

missing in action, during World War II are heroes and 

champions of American freedom; and 

(2) The House of Representatives, on behalf of a 

grateful nation, recognizes the final reunion of the 303rd 

Bomb Group (H) Association and commends the honorable members of the Association, who never once turned 

away from their assigned target, for their selfless service 

to our country. 

Attest: 

Clerk.