Loading List 1, Box I




Loading List 2, Box II




NOBALL (XI/A/79) near Beauvoir, France




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




         
Three photographs in sequence taken by a 9th AF Combat Photographer showing 671st BS A-20J-10-DO, 43-10129, 5C-I falling out of formation
after receiving a direct flak hit in the open bomb bay immediately after releasing their bombs, as well as another flak burst in the tail section.
The crew was Pilot 1Lt Robert E. Stockwell (KIA); B/N 2Lt Albert Jedinak (POW); Gunners S/Sgt Hollis Alfred Foster (KIA) and S/Sgt Egon Willie Rust (POW).

The aircraft orientation in the Left photo (ID "0002" in upper-left corner) and Center photo (No ID) appears similar, but the ground terrain pattern differs between them.
Right photo(ID "0005") shows 43-10129 very small near bottom center of photo; A/C in upper left is 671st BS, A-20G-35-DO, 43-10165, 5C-H

(Courtesy of Captain Francis J. Cachat 416th Photo Collection - Plane Crashes)




    
These two photographs are believed to have been enlarged, cropped and rotated from the first photo (ID "0002") in the above sequence of three.
Both photos show the same flame and ground terrain patterns, but the rotation angles differ slightly.

Left photo was widely distributed and is found on many websites and publications.
Right photo is believed to have been printed by 416th BG Aerial Photo Officer Captain Francis J. Cachat
for potential use in his "9th Bomb. Division Strikes" Yearbook

(Left: National Museum of USAF; Right: Captain Francis J. Cachat "9th Bomb. Division Strikes" Yearbook)





Newspaper article, The Marshall News Messenger, Marshall, Texas, 18 May 1944, Thursday, Page 1
This photograph and similar captions appeared in numerous newspapers.

(NewsPapers.com)





"Low level attacks took the Nazis by surprise. Though losses were extremely light a few planes like this flak-fired Douglas A-20 were downed by the enemy. - Germany"

(Fold3.com WWII US Air Force Photos, NARA ID: 342-FH-3A20393-53324AC)

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)
May 12, 1944 Friday	MACR 4634		43-10129 A-20J	46	671	Beauvoir, France	Stockwell, Robert Edmond (MIA, KIA) Jedinak, Albert NMI (MIA, POW, RMC, EUS) Foster, Hollis Alfred (MIA, DED) Rust, Egon Willie (MIA, POW, RMC, EUS)
May 12, 1944 Friday	No_Report		43-9387 A-20G	46	670		McGlohn, Charles L. (Not Injured) Moran, John W. (WIA) Driskill, Paul B. (WIA)

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 # 46 -- May 12, 1944, Friday PM
Beauvoir, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/79)

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

Shortly after those planes landed, 39 fresh crews took off to bomb a Noball at Beauvoir. The course was to lead them through what had already gained the name "Flak Alley." The flak was there as it was expected, in all its intensity and accurateness. One plane received a direct hit from flak while in the target area. It burst into flames and crashed a mile west of the target. Two chutes were seen to come out of the plane. Its crew was 1st Lt Robert E. Stockwell, pilot, 2d Lt Albert Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, S/Sgt Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt Egon W. Rust, gunners. Lt Stockwell had been with the Group almost from the beginning of its existence. Bombing in flights of sixes, there were three "Excellents" and three "Poors". Major Willetts, with Lt Royalty, B-N, and Captain Conant, with Lt McBrien, B-N, led the two boxes. Twenty-Four planes suffered battle damage.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 74 - 76

Mission #46 - 12 May - PM - Beauvoir Noball. The route to this target was through what was known as "flak-alley" and it lived up to its name. Many planes suffered severe damage. One plane, piloted by Lt. Robert Stockwell with Lt. Albert Jedinak, BN, leading a flight, received a direct hit in the open bomb bay, and another shot in the tail section. The bombbay exploded and photos of this flaming injured plane is on exhibit at the Dayton Air Museum and has been shown in many Air Force periodicals. From the severity of the flames, it was thought no one could possibly escape from it, but the bombardier, Jedinak, and one gunner, Sgt. Egan W. Rust did manage to parachute out to be taken prisoner and eventually returned to freedom. Rust was the tunnel gunner who hand held a machine gun out the open hatch at the bottom of the plane, so it would have been easy for him to slide out by pushing himself into the air, which he did. Jedinak said he had just released his bombs, following the lead bombardier's drop, when his plane lifted from the hit in the bombbay.

The plane side-slipped out of the formation and was in a flat spin, He tried to contact Stockwell, but got no response. Then the emergency gong rang twice, not the usual three times which meant everybody out! Jedinak was pinned to the bottom of his small compartment, facing toward the pilot's cockpit. Centrifugal force kept him pinned down.

Before the plane started spinning, he evidently unknowingly, released the emergency hatch handle at the bottom of the plane. He tried to lift himself up but seemed to have been pinned down. He tried to kick the escape door open by banging down on it, but it did not budge either. He laid back and felt a quietness as the plane flat spinned downward. Looking around he saw the dinghy ring on his parachute had caught between the side of the plane and the bulkhead. He finally worked it free and another kick at the hatch, dropped it out.

He tumbled down after it, wondering if the whirling props would cut him up as he flew by them under the plane. He did bump his head against the underside of the burning craft, but freed himself, with the chute not yet opened. In his descent, he was falling with his head lower than his feet , he yanked the pull cord and the chute blossomed open but the shround came up between his legs, the chute failing to open. A violent tug got the chute in proper position, and down he went the way chutes are supposed to operate. Looking around, he saw the plane off in the distance with the canopy still in place, not being able to see Stockwell. Ground fire was shooting at him.

Jedinak landed in a bomb crater, where he pulled off his flying suit, insignia, Mae West, and rolled up the chute, covering it all with clods of dirt. He kept his flying jacket. Making his way to a wooded thicket, he saw another chute coming down, and also saw flames of the plane burning in the distance. In short order three Germans approached him, ordered him out, and pointing a Luger and rifles at him, marched him toward the gun emplacements they had been monitoring, The Germans also cornered the gunner, Egan Rust, and the two of them were frisked, leaving only their uniforms and jackets.

Looking around, Jedinak saw a battery of anti-aircraft guns, mulling over in his mind that our A-2 Intelligence were right by saying this area was a hot bed of anti-aircraft fire. He was amazed at the number of guns in such a small confined area.

The two Americans were treated well, given food, but interrogated intensely, but neither gave more than their rank, name, and serial number although having been pressured to give them other information about their units, their targets, and other military information.

Stalags were visited, having been moved four times. Jedinak was liberated from Moosberg by Patton's Third Army on 27 April, 1945.

When he was repatriated, Jedinak visited Stockwell's widow, telling about their last mission and his experiences with Stockwell before the mission. A good friendship blossomed and they eventually married. Jedinak passed away in 1994.

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

The following day, May 12, two more of our personnel were awarded the Purple Heart for flak wounds. S/Sgt Moran and S/Sgt Driskill were hit during an attack on the Beauvoir Noball target. Bombing of this target was rated excellent.

"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.

On the late mission on May 12th, Lt. Robert E. Stockwell, flying deputy lead in a A-20J No. 129 received a direct hit through the open bomb bay doors and another burst in the tail section, causing the ship to crash over the No-Ball target. Lt. Albert Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, and S/Sgt. Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt. Egon W. Rust were with him. Two parachutes were seen to have opened, so it is believed that two of the crew are still alive.

Lt. Stockwell had been with the 671st Squadron since last July. He rose to the position of flight leader and was one of the key men in the group. He was liked and admired by everyone and his loss is deeply felt. Lt. Jedinak, bombardier-navigator, who also acted as Squadron Gunnery Officer, had proven himself capable in his profession, and shall also be missed greatly. For Lt. Stockwell it was his 23rd Combat Sortie, while Lt. Jedinak completed his 15th.

S/Sgt. Foster who had finished a tour in the Southwest Pacific Theater before joining the 671st in August was rated as one of the best gunners in the Group and was someone the less-experienced crews could go to for advice and be sure it was the right kind. Sgt. Rust, although not joining the outfit until Laurel, had picked up knowledge fast and was considered apt at his lower gun position.

To the two that bailed out...GOOD LUCK! To the two that didn't ...HAPPY LANDING !

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

Our success was not achieved without casualties however. On May 12th while on a mission over the Amiens area, the ship flown by Lt. R. E. Stockwell received a direct hit by enemy flak and burst into flames. Lt. Stockwell, Lt. Albert Jedinak, S/Sgt. H. A. Foster, and S/Sgt. E. W. Rust were missing in action. An excellent photograph of the ship, which was taken by the Ninth Air Force Combat Photographer, was published in many of the leading U. S. papers and magazines.

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