Loading List 1, Box I




Loading List 2, Box II




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (LZ1) vU043046
Extracted from GSGS-4249/AMS-M661 Sheet 7G - "Alencon-Mayenne" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - Army Map Service Topographic Map Series,
France 1:100,000 Series M661 (GSGS 4249), U.S. Army Map Service, 1943-,
Alencon-Mayenne sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)

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)
Aug 12, 1944 Saturday	No_Report		43-9202 A-20G	125	669	Normandy	MacManus, Patrick F.E. Jr. (Not Injured) Rogers, John L. Jr. (Not Injured) Fleischman, Glenn I. (Not Injured)
Aug 12, 1944 Saturday	AAR 45-8-12-513		43-9227 A-20G	125	670	2 miles East of AAF Station 170	Sparling, Joseph R. Jr. (WIA) Brayn, Marvin R. (Major injuries) Shaw, Calvin L. (SWA, EUS)

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 # 125 -- August 12, 1944, Saturday PM
La Ferte Mace - Ecouche, France -- Road Junctions

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

On the following day we went out to bomb points along the highway from La Farte Mace to Ecouche -- being used by the fleeing Germans. The bombs of three flights completely blanketed their targets thus making the highway unserviceable. Six to twelve hour delay fuzes were used in the bombs along with some that were fuzed with instantaneous fuzes. Lt. P.F.P. MacManus was forced down in Normandy when he had trouble with his right engine -- he later flew the plane back to this base. As Lt. J.R. Sparling approached the field, he called in for an emergency landing because of a shortage of gas. He crash landed, however before he could make the field, washing out the plane and cutting commnuications lines off the base. One of his gunners, St. L.C. Shaw, was severely injured when he was thrown from the plane. The other gunner, Staff Sergeant M.E. Brayn, although painfully injured, crawled out of the burning plane and carried St. Shaw clear of the wreckage and administered first aid. Lt. Sparling was also injured slightly. Capt. McNulty and Capt. Osborne led the boxes.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 132

Mission #125 - 12 August - La Ferte Mace Ecouche Highway. This target was just ahead of our advancing allied ground forces, near Argentan and an area where German forces were trying to escape from the Failaise Gap. Over 150 bombers from the Ninth Bomber Command had been dispatched to this choke point, involving six other bomber groups. The 416th were rated to have done the best bombing, with three flights scoring excellents. A convoy of German vehicles trying to make their getaway were hit on the roadways, with tremendous explosions and fires testifying to the great bombing. Captain McNulty and Lt. Burseil, BN, led Box I with Lts. Osborne, and Forma, leading Box II. Captain Morton and Lt. Moore, BN., Lts. Wheeler and Arrington, BN, Lts. Cole and Basnett, BN led flights. Of the six flights, three scored excellent, two good and one poor. No flak or fighters were seen, all returning safely. On the way back to base, Lt. Sparlng of the 670th squadron ran out of gas near the home base. Trying to crash land, the tail section of the plane broke off, causing the two gunners S/Sgts. Bryan and Shaw, to fall out, and be seriously injured with compound fractures requiring hospitalization and eventual return to the states for treatment. Prior to their departure, S/Sgt. Bryan was awarded the Soldier's Medal for pulling his gunner partner Shaw from the tail section of the broken-up plane, in spite of his own injuries.

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

Points along the highway from La Ferte Mace to Ecouche, used by the fleeing Germans, were bombed on the 12th. Capt. Morton led a flight. Lt. MacManus was forced down in Normandy when he had trouble with his right engine. He later flew the plane back to the Base.

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

A thirty-six-ship formation made up the group's 125th mission on August 12th, in an attack against the Le Ferte Mace-Ecouche highway junction, which was a road chokepoint in the Argentan battle area. Excellent results were obtained; many vehicles on the highway were hit, causing violent explosions. Six 670th crews were a part of this mission. Returning from the attack, the plane piloted by Lt Sparling ran out of gas approaching the home base, and in attempting a crash landing, the tail of the fuselage was broken in two, throwing the two gunners, S/Sgt Brayn and Sgt Shaw, from the plane, seriously injuring both. Shock and compound fractures hospitalized both crewmen, resulting in transfer to a Detachment of Patients for eventual transfer back to the United States. S/Sgt Brayn received the Soldier's Medal for his efforts in removing Sgt Shaw to safety, though painfully injured himself.

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

August 12th, 1944

The old 416th Bomb Group was called upon on the evening of August 12th to help in cutting off German troops believed attempting a withdrawal on the Western front from the pocket west of Argentan. More than 150 bombers of the command concentrated a bombing attack on roads and junctions in an area extending from Argentan 20 miles to the west and approximately 10 miles north and 10 miles south of Argentan.

Of the seven Groups dispatched by Bomber Command to strike at the road chokepoints, the 416th turned in the best record with three excellents and two goods. Of these three excellents this Squadron was responsible for two. Lt. Cole and Lt. Basnett, both just back from pass, layed the GP Bombs directly on the MPI, causing damage to the highway, cutting the road and striking several vehicles...a splendid job of bombing. Lt. Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, who have chalked up seven missions since the 8th of August as a new Pilot-Bombardier team, hit their stride on this very important mission also with an excellent.

As the enemy forces tried to withdraw from the pressure of Americans thrusting from the south, Canadians and British from the north and an unyielding Allied line to the west, the 416th and other groups of Havocs and Marauders bombed the escape roads to the rear as well as troops and motor transport concentrated in this area. Another extra-special job of bombing for the Group.

[August 12, 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 12, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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