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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 1 -- March 3, 1944, Friday AM Poix, France Airdrome
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 1 -- March 3, 1944, Friday AM Poix, France Airdrome
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 18 Total -- 18 A-20's Target Operational Number: Z 364 Illustration : S 614/5 Illustration Ref : 039085 Summary of Results : Formation was recalled by Bomber Command Control before reaching target. Fighter rendezvous not accomplished. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.77847,1.98990 (49° 46' 42" N, 1° 59' 24" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Selected Town center - Poix, France) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 1 -- March 3, 1944, Friday AM
Poix, France -- Airdrome
| 1 669th 41-3386 2A-A A-20B Maj Radetsky, H.A. Lt McBrien, R.T. Sgt Simpson, D.H. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr. |
2 669th 43-9226 2A-E A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. |
3 669th 43-9214 2A-C A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. Sgt Molver, V.E. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
| 4 670th 41-3380 F6-C A-20B Maj Towles, C.S., Jr. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
6 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
| 1 668th 41-3371 5H-F A-20B Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Herttua, J.R. Sgt McCreery, J.E. |
2 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Col Mace, H.L. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
3 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
| 4 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Capt Battersby, W. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
6 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 1 671st 41-3369 5C-L A-20B Maj Campbell, M.W. Lt Jones, C.W. S/Sgt Shields, J.J. Sgt Epps, E.T. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Bresnak, J.D. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
3 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Radlich, N. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. |
| 4 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Capt Clark, R.A. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
5 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
6 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Col Thatcher, H.B. Lt Col Curtis, D.A. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. [Col Thatcher, CO on the 99th Combat Wing] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 1 -- March 3, 1944, Friday AM
Poix, France -- Airdrome
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
At the beginning of the month two diversionary missions were flown to the middle of the English Channel. The first combat mission was to be on 3 March. An attack on the Poix Airdrome in France was scheduled, but the flight of eighteen planes, led by Major Radetsky, was recalled at the French coast because of lack of fighter escort. One plane piloted by 2nd Lt. William S. Ostrander had to be ditched in the channel. Colonel Thatcher, Commanding Officer on the 99th Combat Wing, flew with the mission.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 41
Mission #1 - 3 March 1944 - Poix Airfield - The thrill of the
first mission to enemy territory was an event in the minds of the
participants selected to make this baptism of fire. It was a relatively
small formation of only 18 planes. Major Harold Radetsky
was the lead pilot. The fighter escort was planned to rendezvous
with our group over the channel, before it reached the French
Coast, but something went awry when they did not show up, so
the mission was recalled.
It would be desirable to name each crew member participating
on the missions and to have the loading lists of each
foray, but that would be a book all its own. Consequently, the
name of the lead flight and box leaders will be identified, as they
are mentioned in official documents available for viewing. We
have a representative group of loading listings later in this presentation
for about 30 missions, identifying all participants.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Our first scheduled mission came on the third of March. The objective was an airdrome at Poix, but the ships had hardly crossed the French coast when they were recalled by Bomber Command because of cloud cover over the target. Though our crews were cheated of the opportunity to drop their bombs upon the enemy's installations, they had their first glimpse of Hitler's vaunted Atlantic Wall, and all received sortie credits. Officers and men who participated in this, the Squadron's first combat mission were as follows:
Major Robert F. Price
Captain William Battersby
1st Lt Arthur E. Osborne Jr.
2nd Lt Joseph F. Meagher
2nd Lt Raymond K. Cruze
2nd Lt Robert D. Lesher
2nd Lt Luther E. Hill
2nd Lt Gustave Ebenstein
2nd Lt Richard D. Poindexter
2nd Lt Richard T. McBrien (Bombardier-Navigator)
2nd Lt Arvid R. Hand (Bombardier-Navigator)
Gunners
S/Sgt Doyel H. Simpson S/Sgt Ray Bankston
S/Sgt John R. Herttua S/Sgt Joseph R. McCreery
S/Sgt Edward S. Dickinson S/Sgt Elpidio A. Damico
S/Sgt William H. Coe S/Sgt Earnest E. Kelly
S/Sgt Carl F. Love S/Sgt Fred L. Adair
S/Sgt John A. Fejes Jr. S/Sgt Earl R. Judd
S/Sgt Adolfos J. Antanaitis S/Sgt Lawrence R. Hedrick
S/Sgt James S. Hume S/Sgt Clarence R. Yost Jr.
S/Sgt Robert W. Burch S/Sgt Daniel M. Brown
S/Sgt Lewis M. Daugherty S/Sgt Charles L. Hibbs
S/Sgt Holley Perkins Jr. S/Sgt S. P. Newell
T/Sgt Leo G. Robbins S/Sgt Vern E. Molver
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Divisionary attacks were flown over the channel on the first two days of March. The first combat mission took off on the third to attack the Poix Airdrome in France. The formation was recalled, because of the lack of fighter escort, when it reached the French coast. The following five crews particpated in the first attack:
| Major Campbell | A-20B 41-9377 | S/Sgt. Shields | ||
| S/Sgt. Epps | ||||
| Lt. Shainberg | A-20G 43-9226 | S/Sgt. Bresnak | ||
| S/Sgt. Cope | ||||
| Lt. Siggs | A-20G 43-9751 | S/Sgt Radlich | ||
| Pfc Nicks | ||||
| Lt. Demun | A-20G 43-9202 | Sgt. Rosenstein | ||
| Sgt. Carney | ||||
| Capt. Clark | A-20G 43-9673 | S/Sgt. Bergeron | ||
| S/Sgt. Kelton | ||||
| Sgt. Colosimo |
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 3, 1944
The 416th Bombardment Group was alerted on the night of March the 2nd, 1944, and the ground crews went into action loading and fusing the 500 lb. demolition bombs and preparing the ships for the first operational mission. The ships took off at 0830, but went no further than the English Channel where they failed to pick up a fighter escort and had to return with a full bomb load. Four of our ships were used, but 2nd Lt. Henry T. Arrington was the only member of the Squadron in on the first mission.