Hell's Angels; The True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group in World War II

[10], 454 pages. Map. Illustrations. Bibliography. Notes. Index. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Jay A. Stout is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot. An Indiana native and graduate of Purdue University, he was commissioned on June 1, 1981 and was designated a naval aviator on 13 May 1983. His first fleet assignment was to F-4 Phantoms at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Following a stint as an instructor pilot at NAS Chase Field Texas from 1986 to 1989, he transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. He flew the Hornet from bases on both coasts and ultimately retired from MCAS Miramar during 2001. During his twenty-year career he flew more than 4,500 flight hours, including 37 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military career Stout subsequently flew F/A-18s for the Kuwait Air Force for a year before returning to the States where he now works as a senior analyst for a leading defense contractor. Lieutenant Colonel Stout has been published in various national journals and newspapers and his work has been read on the floor of the United States Senate. Articles published while he was on active duty addressed controversial topics (the MV-22 Osprey, the Super Hornet, the effectiveness of the AV-8B Harrier, etc.). Stout has also written thirteen books—all published by mainstream publishing houses. Critically well-received, many of them have won awards. Stout is a recognized military subject matter expert and polished speaker and presenter. He has appeared on the Fox News Network, Al Jazeera and National Public Radio as well as dozens of regional and local network affiliates. The true story of World War 2’s legendary Hell’s Angels—the 8th Air Force’s 303rd Bomb Group. Although the United States declared war against Germany in December 1941, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany’s industrial and military might were crippled. The first target was the Luftwaffe—the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. The United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain’s already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group—Hell’s Angels. This is the 303rd’s story, as told by the men who made it what it was. Taking their name from their B-17 of the same name, they became one of the most distinguished and important air combat units in history. The unit was activated as the 303rd Bombardment Group in February 1942. During World War II, the 303rd was one of the first VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress units in England. The group's "Hell's Angels" is recognized by the USAF as the first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions in the ETO on 13 May 1943, six days before the Memphis Belle. The group went on to fly more than 300 combat missions, more than any other B-17 group in the theater. The group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for completing an attack against a heavily defended target in January 1944. Its first combat mission on November 17, 1942, a strike against German submarines at Saint-Nazaire. The 303rd returned having been unable to locate its target. It attacked Saint-Nazaire the following day, although its intended target was La Pallice. Its initial raids were on airfields, railroads and submarine pens in France. As one of only four Flying Fortress groups in VIII Bomber Command during late 1942 and early 1943, the 303rd participated in the development of the tactics that would be used throughout the air campaign against Germany. In 1943, the group 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, marshaling yards, and other strategic targets, including the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, shipya.