[303rd-Talk] Mission 270 (Metz)

[P'tit Gitzho']

Hello,

My name is Mathieu Gitzhofer, french boy (22 years old) living in Metz (East of France).

I'm the webmaster of www.IronMenofMetz.new.fr.

It's a French website designed to preserve the history of the U.S. 95th Infantry Division and to honor the memory of the veterans of this 95th. The website is focused on the fighting in and around Metz and contains a nice collection of Then-and-Now photos. The website is available in both French and English.

I'm in contact with many veterans of this division and I joined them at their annual reunion last July in Oklahoma City, OK.

I just obtained 10 pictures about a bombing drop over Metz. I had no information about te date, the unit, except the RAF and US Army stamples on the back of the pictures. After some researchs, I founded on the website a Report of a mission of the 303rd BG(H) (Number 270) and saw the PDF file on your website. In fact, I have the same picture of the bomb strike on Metz that you show..

I saw that at thi smission, the B-17F #42-29947 was used as an observer aircraft, with 320BS Formation. Crewing were US and british soldiers. Perhaps that's why I have the 2 stamples (RAF and USAAF) on each picture...

I would like to be sure if the picture publish in your pdf file was taken on Nov 9, 1944 ?

If you want to see the other pictures that I have, I'll send you copies. It's bombing drops over train station and Airport.

I would like to know if some member of this operation are still alive ?If Yes, I would like to contact them to obtain their testimonies, and to do a "big report" with their histories and the pictures that I have now..

Thank you for your reply,

By hoping to read you soon,

Mathieu GITZHOFER
matgitzhofer at wanadoo.fr 
www.ironmenofmetz.new.fr
Website of The Iron Men of Metz - 95th Infantry Division