On the right-hand side of the nave facing the altar.

A thick rectangular stone tablet, engraved with a commemoration message and painted insignias of the 8^th Air Force and 303^rd BG on the top-left and right corners. The plaque is inscribed in English in black and blue lettering. This is dedicated by the 303^rd Bombardment Group Association in June 1984 and commemorates all men of the 303^rd BG and support units who were stationed at RAF Molesworth during World War II.

With the departure of the 15th Bomb Squadron, Molesworth was occupied by the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 358th Bombardment Squadron, the first of four squadrons that would comprise the 303d Bombardment Group. The 303d Bombardment Group consisted of the following squadrons:

• 358th Bombardment Squadron (Code VK)
• 359th Bombardment Squadron (Code BN)
• 360th Bombardment Squadron (Code PU)
• 427th Bombardment Squadron (Code GN)

The 358th flew the first mission for the group on 17 November 1942. The group would become one of the legendary units of the Eighth Air Force. The 303d took part in the first penetration into Germany by heavy bombers of Eighth Air Force by striking the U-boat yard at Wilhelmshaven on 27 January 1943 then attacked other targets concentrated primarily on the strategic bombardment of German industry, marshaling yards, and other strategic targets, including the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, shipyards at Bremen and an aircraft engine factory at Hamburg.

The 303d received a Distinguished Unit Citation for an operation on 11 January 1944 when, despite continuous attacks by enemy fighters in weather that prevented effective fighter cover from reaching the group, it successfully struck an aircraft assembly plant at Oschersleben.

The group 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).

On 31 May 1945, the 303d Bomb Group left Molesworth, moving to Casablanca, French Morocco. A monument to the 303rd BG stands near the RAF main entrance gate and is accessible to the public. (Our page to the monument: https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/site_details.php?SiteID=1707)

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, Google Maps

IN MEMORY OF MEMBERS

OF THE 303^RD BOMBARDMENT

GROUP (H) AND ITS ASSIGNED

SUPPORT UNITS, STATIONED

AT MOLESWORTH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN

THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES IN THE

DEFENSE OF THE FREE WORLD DURING THE

PERIOD OF 12 SEPTEMBER 1942 - 11 JUNE 1945

DEDICATED BY 303^RD BOMB GROUP ASSOCIATION

JUNE 1984