Not long after arriving in Thurleigh, England, the 306th was sent on its first mission to hit the locomotive works at Lille, France. Twenty-four B-17s took off from Thurleigh between 07:32-08:14 and arrived over the target at 09:30–09:48.

All of the squadrons took part, and the 306th suffered its first loss when Captain John Olson’s plane was seen to lag behind with the #1 engine on fire. It was immediately attacked by 6-8 enemy planes, which took out engine #2. It was shortly after this the plane lost height and descended in a slow spiral and then in a vertical descent.

Witnesses saw one parachute before the plane hit the ground. It was also witnessed that while the stricken plane was heading to earth, the top turret gunner, T/Sgt Erwin C. Wissenback, was aware of his fate, he was seen to be firing at enemy planes of which one was hit and shot down.