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Loading List 1, Box I




Loading List 2, Box II




Google Map

The Notre Dame de Ferme V-1 launch ramp can be seen to left-center just below the dry pond.

Due to cloud cover near Hazebrouck the actual drop was made at the Noball site of Notre Dame de Ferme,
a target of opportunity about 18 miles northwest of the primary target (see below). This diversion
took the flights directly over the heavily defended fortifications at Watten and St. Omer where they
encountered extreme flak and lost three aircraft plus another that crashed on landing at Wethersfield,
a loss of six 416th crewmen.




Google Map with Strike Photo overlay

The post-mission intelligence reports describe the result as a bad miss, with bombs landing in an open field.
However, these photos and the Google Map overlay confirm that one series of bombs did land in the field to the
west of the Noball site but another series of bombs landed squarely on the V-1 installation - a direct hit.
(Overlay by Wayne Sayles)




Due to 10/10 cloud cover, a wooded field near Recques Wood (about 18 miles
northwest of the intended Primary Target of Bois des Huit Rues) was bombed.




Recques Wood Bomb Run Photo overlaid on current Google Earth display
(Overlay by Wayne Sayles)




Bois des Huit Rues
(Photo courtesy of F.J. Cachat via Andy Fluxe)




Bois des Huit Rues
(Photo courtesy of F.J. Cachat via Ron Papajcik)


See website "V1 (flying bomb) Vengance weapon site, Hazebrouck" (PDF)
for information on the Original "XI/A/73" Bois des Huit Rues target,
including a site map and photographs of still existing structures.

Missing Air Crew Reports, Aircraft Accident Reports, and other incidents

Date	Report		A/C Serial # Type	Mis- sion #	Bomb Sq	Location	Personnel (Status when available)
Apr 10, 1944 Monday	MACR 3747		43-9699 A-20G	10	671	Bradwell Bay, England	Cramsie, William Edward (MIA, KIA) Henshaw, Charles Russell (MIA, KIA) Steward, Jack NMI (MIA, KIA)
Apr 10, 1944 Monday	No_Report		43-9218 A-20G	10	671	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Dunn, Lloyd Francis (Not Injured) Worden, Howard Carr (Slightly Injured) Rzepka, Joseph John (Not Injured)
Apr 10, 1944 Monday	MACR 3746		43-9895 A-20G	10	669	Over target [Bois des Huit Rues, France]	Raines, Arthur Alvin Jr. (MIA, KIA) Bender, Glenn J. (MIA, KIA) Nielsen, Jack O. (MIA, KIA)
Apr 10, 1944 Monday	No_Report		43-9370 A-20G	10	669	Bradwell Bay	Street, Marion S. (Not Injured) Prindle, Charles Alden (Not Injured) Huber, Alexander J. (MIA, RTD)

To view more information regarding an Incident/Report, click on the Report hyperlink.
( = Entries having actual Reports available for review.   = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)
To view an individual's Memorial page, click on the "Name" hyperlink.

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 10 -- April 10, 1944, Monday AM
Bois des Huit Rues, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/73)

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

The first operational mission to be completed in April was flown on the morning of the 10th. The mission was a costly one for us. Of the 38 planes that took off, three never returned. Two crews were lost due to Enemy Action. The third plane crash-landed at Bradwell Bay. It was flown by 1st Lt. Marion Street. His two gunners bailed out before he landed. The plane, badly shot up, was brought down in an excellent belly-landing so that Lt. Street was able to walk away from the wreckage uninjured. Second Lt. Arthur A. Raines and his two gunners, S/Sgt. Jack O. Nielsen and S/Sgt. Glenn J. Bender, were last seen shortly after leaving the target area losing altitude. 1st Lt. William E. Cramsie and his two gunners, S/Sgt. Charles R. Henshaw and S/Sgt. Jack (NMI) Steward, were last heard from calling for a bearing while out over the English Channel. Lt. Raines, Lt. Cramsie, and their crews have been listed as "Missing in Action".

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 47 - 48

Mission #10 - 10 April - AM - Bois de Ruit Rues Noball. This mission came after 15 days of bad weather, during which time we had a few false starts. On two occasions planes had taken off and were recalled - frustrating, to say the least, with everybody anxious for action. When this tenth mission did get off, it proved to be quite costly for the group. Very intense accurate flak met the formation at the target, with three planes being shot out of the sky. The enemy gunners seemed to concentrate on individual flights rather than a blanket of flak bursts popping all around the group. Some flights did not receive hits, while others paid well for the mispleasure. Lt. Arthur Raines from the 669th squadron with gunners S/Sgts Glenn Bender and Jack Neilsen were last seen losing altitude, giving out distress calls. All three were listed as missing in action.

The second plane hit was piloted by Lt. William F. Cramsie from the 671st with gunners S/Sgts Charles Henshaw and Jack Steward. They were headed down toward the channel, asking for a bearing to base; they were all listed as MIA. The third plane piloted by Lt. Marion (Scotty) Street from the 669th squadron was badly shot up. Street gave the order to his gunners to bail out, and they did, splashing down in the channel and then being picked up by air-sea rescue teams.

Lt. Street, having lost an engine, nurtured his plane with skill and belly landed on the English coast. He walked away, uninjured. Maybe his discipline from West Point training gave him the foresight to do the right thing to protect himself.

Captain Loyd Dunn of the 671st squadron had his hydraulic line shot out, causing him to wash out the plane without brakes on landing. It wound up in a ditch at the end of the runway. His gunner, S/Sgt Worden was injured on the crash landing.

The bombing results were way off, dropping quite a way away from the target. Poor weather conditions contributed to the faulty bombsighting. The only damage incurred on this mission was that inflicted on a number of planes.

"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.

Destiny had planned that we were to pay for our day of rest of yesterday. Today was to prove the mettle of the Group. And it did, to our advantage. Early rising, breakfast, briefing, and the strain of a mission faced many. Again the ships took off to pay Jerry for past services rendered unfavorably. The target was --- Bois De Huit (no ball) France, and it proved to be "plain hell." Those who dropped bombs did so from 14,000 feet midst extremely heavy flak. Our squadron narrowly missed being caught in a box of flak. Disastrous, to those who have been caught in it. Trouble set in, and Lt. Paines of the 669th was first to drop out and down. When last seen, he was heading to earth, giving out distress calls. As yet no word has been heard from her. Lt. Cramsie of the 671st was doomed to be next on the unlucky list. His ship was hit, and he ordered his gunners to bail out. They did, and landed safe in friendly hands. When last heard, Cramsie and his ship had ditched in the Channel. Now word from him, and he will be considered "missing". The length of time one can exist in the Channel's icy waters is eighteen minutes, this time of year. Lt. Street, 669th squadron, was destined to be next.

Combination of skill and a degree of luck, aided him in bringing his damaged ship to England's shores where he crashed landed. He was not injured nor his gunners. The rest of the ships came back pretty well chewed up. Poor weather and damage proved the results to be "fair". Damages suffered by our ships were as follows --- A-20G's #223 and #701 were sent to the Service Group; cause--- fuel cells hit. A-20G #895, presumed lost in France. # 963 suffered right outer wing change, due to damage inflicted. A-20J # 640---flak in right engine. Not so serious flak damage in the other ships summed up the rest of the damages. All together it was a costly mission.

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

The bad weather that hampered our operations in March threatened to cancel our April activities. For the first nine days not a mission was flown, but when the first mission took off on the morning of the tenth, it began one of the most intensive periods of flying in the history of the Ninth Air Force. The Group flew 24 missions in April. Some of our Squadron personnel flew on each of them. Our crews flew 194 sorties.

That first April mission was a costly one for the Squadron. Of the ten of our planes that took off, two never returned. One plane flown by Lt Marion Street crash-landed at Bradwell Bay. His two gunners bailed out when he decided to bring the plane down. It was an excellent job of flying. None of the crew was injured, but the plane was utterly destroyed. Lt Arthur A. Raines and his two gunners, S/Sgt Jack C. Nielson and S/Sgt Glenn J. Bender, were last seen shortly after leaving the target area in the Pas de Calais. They were losing altitude. They are listed as "Missing in Action."

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Missions during the early part of the month were scarce due to a run of unfavorable weather. It was April 10th before our crews resumed their action against enemy installations in Europe. On that date 18 sorties were flown in two missions. In addition Capt Jackson, Lt Shea, Lt Atkinson, S/Sgts Evans, Bonamo, Lee and Sgts Swafford, Glyynn, PF, and Falk were dispatched on a special "window" mission in support of B-26 groups, which was highly successful. The first regular mission of that day, in which we had ten crews of the 670th participating, was an attack on the Bois des Huit Rues Noball site. Severe flak resistance was experienced over the target, and S/Sgt Griffin became the first enlisted man to suffer flak wounds. The wounds were minor and S/Sgt Griffin received the Purple Heart. The second regular mission of the day was an attack on the Linghem Noball site, in which nine of our crews took part. So, after a very busy day we found our ground crews working far into the night to repair the battle damage experienced.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

Finally on April 10th, 1944 the group hit the jackpot with not one but two missions. The morning flight was a sad one for this Squadron. Lt. Cramsie, flying with S/Sgt. Henshaw and S/Sgt. Steward, was lost on the return after having an engine on his ship A-20G No. 699 shot out over the target. It is believed that the ship went down in the Channel. No word has been received and the three crew members have been listed as Missing in Action. Lt. Raines and crew from the 669th Bomb Squadron were also lost and believed to have gone down in France. Lt. Street of the 669th Squadron lost an engine over the target area, gave his crew the bailout signal, and then made a successful belly landing on an emergency airfield in England. The crew was picked up by Air/Sea Rescue. Captain Dunn had his hydraulic system and emergency air brake system shot out, and was unable to stop on landing, washing out A-20G No. 218. Gunner S/Sgt. Worden received a slightly wrenched back when the ship hit the ditch. Otherwise, the crew was unhurt.

Due to poor weather the mission was unsuccessful. The bombs were actually dropped some distance from the proper target - a "No Ball".

The following crews took part in the morning mission:

Capt. Lloyd F. Dunn S/Sgt. Howard C. Worden S/Sgt. Joseph J. Rzepka		Lt. William A. Merchant S/Sgt. Kenneth Brown S/Sgt. Clifford J. Harp		Lt. Stuart M. Hixon S/Sgt. Hollis A. Foster S/Sgt. Egon W. Rust
Lt. Michael Zubon T/Sgt. Jean Tanner S/Sgt. William Russell		Lt. Marzolf, Lavern A. S/Sgt. Louis G. Kutzer Sgt. Joseph Feistl		Lt. Harold Andrews S/Sgt. George M. Cook S/Sgt. Ernest Werley
Lt. Anthony R. Durante S/Sgt. Harry T. Best S/Sgt. R.R. Williamson		Maj. David L. Willets Lt. Henry Arrington Lt. Peter G. Royalty T/Sgt. Felix H. Larronde S/Sgt. Henry A. Lempka		Lt. James D. Adams Sgt. Pervy Clearman Cpl. Allan J. Zeikus
Lt. William E. Cramsie S/Sgt. Charles R. Henshaw S/Sgt. Jack Steward

"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

Targets especially earmarked for our Group to Attack were Noball Targets (Special Constructions), Airfields, Marshalling Yards and Coastan Defenses. Priority on these targets varied from week to week. All targets were located in Northern France and Belgium, with the Noball Targets being in the well-defended Pas-de-Calais Area. Soon the crews were speaking with great respect of such places as St. Omer Crece Forest, Abbeyville and St. Pol. From these positions enemy flak fire was remarkably accurate and already had taken a toll of our crews. On April 10th, Lt. William E. Cramsie and his Gunners, S/Sgt. Jack Steward and S/Sgt. Charles R. Henshaw were missing in action due to HFF.

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