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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 40 -- May 8, 1944, Monday PM Ailly-Le-Haut Clocher, France NOBALL (XI/A/38)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 40 -- May 8, 1944, Monday PM Ailly-Le-Haut Clocher, France NOBALL (XI/A/38)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 33 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 3021 Illustration : A/38/1 Illustration Ref : 045027 Summary of Results : Two boxes of 18 ships each box, preceded by 3 ships carrying window only. Bombing results by flight ranged from Poor to Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.07569,1.99428 (50° 4' 32" N, 1° 59' 39" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on V1 Sites, Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1944 Monday |
No_Report | 43-9377 A-20G |
40 | 668 | Ritchie, Scott Brewer Jr. (Not Injured)
Newkirk, Arlington Westley Jr. (WIA) Anderson, Edwin A. (WIA) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 40 -- May 8, 1944, Monday PM
Ailly-Le-Haut Clocher, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/38)
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. [Not Airborne] |
3 669th 43-9214 2A-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
| 4 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
5 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
6 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 1 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
3 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
5 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. |
6 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Lt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
2 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Falk, F.G. |
3 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9386 F6-W A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
| 1 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
2 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Binney, I. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Clark, R.A. Lt Jones, C.W. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. Lt Sutliff, G.F. [Sutliff (4th CCU)] |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. [Not Airborne] |
| 4 669th 43-9679 2A-R A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
5 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
6 669th 43-9983 2A-J A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
| 1 671st 43-10129 5C-I A-20J Lt Stockwell, R.E. Lt Jedinak, A. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
2 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Radlich, N. Sgt Nicks, R.W. |
| 4 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
5 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. |
6 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. [Returned Early] |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E. |
2 668th 43-9377 5H-W A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
3 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
| 4 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. [Returned Early] |
5 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
6 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Col Aylesworth, T.R. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 40 -- May 8, 1944, Monday PM
Ailly-Le-Haut Clocher, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/38)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Bad weather caused the mission to the Aerschot Marshalling Yards on the next morning to abort. Striking back in the afternoon, Major Willetts with Lt Royalty, B-N, and Captain Clark with Lt Jones, B-N, led two boxes over the Noball installations at Ailly le Haut/Clocher. The 39 planes bombed in flights of sixes. The results were generally good. Four aircraft sustained battle damage.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 71 - 72
Mission #40 - 8 May - PM - Ailly L'Haut Cloches Noball. As just reported, the weather clears up as fast as it clouds up. This target was available for sighting and it was done with precision. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN, led Box I with Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, leading Box II, Lts. Stockwell and Jedinak led flights. Bombing was done in flights of six, providing a better chance of hits with six flights making a stab at hitting the aiming point. It worked well, with great results. Flak was severe, however, and considerable damage was experienced. Lt. Scott Ritchie, a West Pointer had a narrow escape yesterday, but somebody was after him because another flak burst hit his plane, knocking out his right engine, and slightly wounding his gunners S/Sgts Newkirk and Anderson. He managed to bring the ship back to base, landing on only two wheels, with the nose wheel collapsing, but he did so successfully. It never ceases to amaze how 20 year old youngsters, gunners, and other crew members can retain their composure and determination to undergo trials and rough conditions on a daily basis and always come back for more.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The first mission of May 8th was an attack on the Aerschot
marshalling yards, in which eleven of our crews took part. The second
mission of the day was a very successful attack on the Ailly LeHaut-
Clocher Noball site. Nine of our crews took part in the bombing of
this target, which was rated as an excellent job.
On May 8th, Lt McNulty received his Captain's rating, and 2d Lt's
Heafey, Powell and Conte were advanced to 1st Lt's.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
After a four day recess the 416th Bomb Group reached a new bombing high, crossing the English Channel 11 times from May 7th thru May 13th to smash enemy installations in France and Belgium. The Havocs were out in force twice on the 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12th of May, while just once on the 13th. No mission was flown on May 10th because of poor weather.
Marshalling Yards, Airdromes and "No-Balls" were hit in the weeks operations which culminated in a great loss to the 671st Bomb Squadron.