Aviation Elite 303rd Bombardment Group Osprey Books

The first title in the Elite Units series to deal with an American bombardment group, this title focuses on the 303rd BG, dubbed the 'Hells Angels.' One of the very first B-17 units assigned to the newly created Eighth Air Force in England in September 1942, the 303rd was in the vanguard of the daylight bombing campaign through to VE-Day. Along the way it enjoyed a number of 'firsts' one of its B-17s was the first bomber to complete 25 missions (in June 1943); it was the first bomb group to complete 300 missions from the UK; and it eventually flew more missions than any other B-17 group in the Eighth AF. Awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation in January 1944, the 303rd also had two of its aircrewmen presented with the Medal of Honor, Americas ultimate military decoration. Brian O Neill brings the group's colourful combat history to life with a mix of first-hand accounts, raw statistics and concise mission narrative.