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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 124 -- August 11, 1944, Friday PM St. Malo, France Gun Defenses
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 124 -- August 11, 1944, Friday PM St. Malo, France Gun Defenses
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 30 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4803W/J/10 Illustration : 4803W/1/L Illustration Ref : 007013 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Three flights scored Fair, one Good, two Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.63696,-2.03017 (48° 38' 13" N, 2° 1' 49" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Target Illustration) (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 # 124 -- August 11, 1944, Friday PM
St. Malo, France -- Gun Defenses
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
2 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
3 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, C.L. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
| 4 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Paules, E.F. Sgt Martinez, L. |
5 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G F/O Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
| 1 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
2 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
3 669th 43-21767 2A-N A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
| 4 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Veazey, C.W. Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
5 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. [Returned Early Late Take Off Spare took place in formation] |
6 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Geyer, J.F. Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
3 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 4 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Felkel, J.W. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
5 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
6 668th 43-21760 5H-Z A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Heitell, S.L. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Sgt Euga, P.G. Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
3 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
| 4 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
5 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Hall, M. Sgt Wilson, B.R. |
6 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Sampson, D.A. Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt Wheeler, R.V. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
| 4 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Lt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
2 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt Mani, J. Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| 4 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
5 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Land, W.H. Pvt Perkins, H.W. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
6 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. Sgt Burland, A.J. Sgt Heath, K. |
| SPARE 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. [Not Airborne] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 124 -- August 11, 1944, Friday PM
St. Malo, France -- Gun Defenses
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon, Capt. Jackson and Capt. Rudisill led two boxes in an attack on the St. Malo gun defenses, which had continued to hold out against our infantry attacks. At least 50 hits were scored in the target area of which 10 were in the fort area. Minor damage was inflicted in the north side of the fort. The Infantry sent congratulations on the splendid aid we had given them.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 131 - 132
Mission #124 - 11 August - PM - St. Malo Gun Defenses. The Mad Colonel of St. Malo had to be taken out of his castle. Their guns were holding back the Allied forces which were up to 1500 yards of the castle. The 416th - SUPER BOMBARDIERS were called upon to hit this castle but be sure not to hurt any of our ground crews, less than a half mile away. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, Captain Morton and Lt. Moore, BN, Lt. Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, BN, Captain McNulty with Lt. Burseil, BN. The official report stated: "That afternoon Captain Hulse and Captain Morton led two flights of a formation that attacked the St. Malo gun defenses. Lt. Conte, Captain Hulse's BN did a superior job of bombing with a circular error of a little more than 100 feet. The infantry sent congratulations on the splendid aid we had given them." The scoring of all the flights were two excellents, one good, three fair. Conte's bombs started dropping just off shore, walked up to the castle and made direct hits on the building.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Capt Hulse was deputy leader on a successful PFF mission to the Foret du Roumare ammunition dump on the 11th.
That afternoon Capt Hulse and Capt Morton led two flights of a formation that attacked the St. Malo gun defenses. Lt. Conte, Capt. Hulse's B-N, did a superior job of bombing with a circular error of a little more than 100 feet. The Infantry sent congratulations on the splendid aid we had given them.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Foret du Roumare ammunition dumps were attacked again the next
day with excellent results, five of our crews being in the attacking
group. A second mission of the day, in which we had eleven crews,
attacked gun positions at St Malo with excellent results.
The August 11th issue of the Stars and Stripes revealed that all
rail and highway bridges over the Seine River, west of Paris, and over
the lower Loire River from Orleans to Nantes were impassable to German
traffic as a result of more that 230 attacks by Maurauders and Havocs
since May 8th.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 11th, 1944
Another twin kill was executed by the 416th on August 11th when the Havocs smashed at an ammunition dump at Foret de Roumarei in the morning and went back in the evening to blast enemy coastal defense batteries at the heavily defended St. Malo.
Pathfinders were used on the morning mission against the ammunition dump, which the Group failed to bomb on the previous evening due to clouds. The clouds disappeared over the wooded target area a few minutes before the formation reached it, but the A-20s bombed on the Pathfinders never the less. Hits were made causing considerable damage. 13 ships received flak damage, but all ships and crews made it back to the base.
The evening mission was another one dutied to the 416th . Infantry divisions mopping up the last remnants of German resistance in the besieged fortress of St. Malo received help from the A-20s, which hammered at stubbornly defended gun positions menacing allied advances. The formation dropped on the guns at the St. Servan entrance to the harbor, bombing a scant 1,500 yards in front of American troops. The guns were reported to have been delaying occupation of the city, which its German commander had threatened to make a "new Stalingrad". Crews reported that the first bombs hit in the water, then waded up the beach and through the target. Bombing by flights, two excellents, a good and three fairs were chalked up. Flak damage was nil.
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[August 11, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, August 11, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |