IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 604 

Expressing the nation’s sincerest appreciation and thanks for the service 

of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) upon the 

occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 1, 2007 

Mr. MCCOTTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the nation’s sincerest appreciation and thanks 

for the service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) upon the occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association. 

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

and trained at Gowen Field, Idaho, from February 13, 

1942, until June 12, 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; 


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•HRES 604 IH 

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

‘‘Hell’s Angels’’, was activated 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; 

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

missions on May 13, 1943, 6 days prior to the ‘‘Memphis 

Belle’s’’ same accomplishment; 

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); 


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•HRES 604 IH 

Whereas the original 303rd Bombardment Group (H) was deactivated 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 

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, DC, on September 19, 

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

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the dedicated men and women who served 

3 in the 8th Air Force, 303rd Bombardment Group 

4 (H), ‘‘Hell’s Angels’’, including the nearly 5,000 list5 ed as missing in action, during World War II are he6 roes and champions of American freedom; and 

7 (2) the House of Representatives, on behalf of 

8 a grateful nation, recognizes the final reunion of the 

9 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association and commends 

10 the honorable members of the Association, who 


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•HRES 604 IH 

1 never once turned away from their assigned target, 

2 for their selfless service to our country. 

Æ 


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