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Summary

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-10125 (Douglas A-20J-10-DO Havoc)

9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 668th Bomb Sq

Mission # 66; Box: II; Flight: 1; Position: 2; A/C Fuselage Code: 5H-M

Reason: Enemy anti-aircraft

Damage: Battle damage

Point Of Departure: AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England

Location: Rome Station, England

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Conant, Hiram Francis	Capt	O-397619	Not Injured
Bombardier/Navigator	McBrien, Richard T.	Lt	O-750085	WIA
Airplane Armorer - Gunner	Kelly, Earnest E.	S/Sgt	38271192	Not Injured
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Coe, William H.	S/Sgt	14178256	Not Injured

Description:
Two other 668th gunners, Staff Sergeants William H. Coe and Earnest E. Kelly, were awarded the SOLDIER'S MEDAL. Sgt. Coe had died of injuries received in a jeep accident in the meantime, and the award was made posthumously to his father, Mr. Thomas E. Coe. On a mission on 4 June 1944, their plane was badly damaged by flak which hit the gasoline tank and hydraulic lines. Leaking hydraulic fluid and gasoline poured into the gunner's compartment when the bomb-bay doors refused to close. Suddenly the radio equipment caught on fire, endangering the complete plane and crew. The two gunners, using fire extinguishers, managed to put out the blaze. Later, just before landing, the fire broke out again. There efforts a second time managed to get the blaze out before the plane touched the ground.
(416th BG History 1944)

On 4th June, the A-20J piloted by Captain Hiram F. Conant, Squadron Operations Officer, was hit by enemy ground fire while on a mission against the Coastal Battery of St. Pierre Dumont. The bombardier-navigator, Lieutenant Richard T. McBrien, was wounded in the legs by flak fragments. In spite of this, Captain Conant successfully attacked the target and brought the severely damaged craft back to England, where he landed at Rome Station. The gunners, Staff Sergeants Earnest E. Kelly and William H. Coe, extinguished two fires in the VHF equipment, thus saving the ship from crashing in flames.
("668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History")

General Orders No. 99, 9 June 1944, Purple Heart is awarded to: 668th Bombardment Squadron (L), Richard T. McBrien, O-750085, First Lieutenant, Air Corps, United States Army. For wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States on 4 June 1944, while serving as Bombardier-Navigator on an A-20 airplane on a combat operational mission over enemy occupied territory. Entered military service at Elkins Park, Penna.
(416th BG Purple Heart Awards (PDF))

See Mission # 66 for additional details