9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 48 -- May 15, 1944, Monday AM

Creil, France

Airfield (S.1604)

 

 WWII-Medal

Previous Mission # 47            Mission List            Next Mission # 49

Return to Table of Contents


Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 41-315
OpRep #            : 45
Nature of Mission  : Bombing
Mission Status     : Attacked
Bombing Altitude   : 11,500 feet 		Take-off Time      : 0727
Time Over Target   : 0918
Landing Time       : 1121
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 3:54
 

Place of Take-Off  : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England
A/C Dispatched     : 37 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's
Target Operational Number: Z 354
Illustration       : S 1604/6
Illustration Ref   : 066021
Secondary Target   : Beauvais/Tille Airdrome (S804) (Z154)
Summary of Results : Box 1 - Excellent Box 2 - Failed to attack because of clouds obscuring view of target on bomb run and flew over break in clouds over target too late to make correction for dropping.

Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.25024,2.51732 (49° 15' 1" N, 2° 31' 2" E)
(Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo)
(See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)


Scanned original Mission 48 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder       Reports Folder       OpRep # 45       Fuel Use

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.



Loading List 1

Loading List 1, Box I


Loading List 2

Loading List 2, Box II


Mission Loading Lists Transcription

Mission # 48 -- May 15, 1944, Monday AM
Creil, France -- Airfield (S.1604)

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.

Box I -- Flight I
  1  670th                   
  43-9455  F6-T  A-20J
  Maj Meng, W.J.
  Lt Powell, V.H.
  S/Sgt Stobert, R.F.
  S/Sgt Glynn, F.P.		   2  671st                   
  43-9914  5C-X  A-20J
  Capt Jackson, C.R.
  Lt Maltby, A.H.
  S/Sgt Riley, R.K.
  S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J.		   3  670th                   
  43-9892  F6-L  A-20G
  Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O.
  S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr.
  Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr.
 
  4  671st                   
  43-9221  5C-F  A-20G
  Lt Wheeler, R.V.
  S/Sgt Brower, J.S.
  S/Sgt Corrin, E.W.
  		  5  671st                   
  43-9393  5C-K  A-20G
  Lt Greenley, R.E.
  S/Sgt Worden, H.C.
  S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.
  		  6  671st                   
  43-10165  5C-H  A-20G
  Lt Adams, J.D.
  S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr.
  Sgt Zeikus, A.J.
 

Box I -- Flight II
  1  670th                   
  43-9200  F6-A  A-20G
  Lt Siracusa, L.J.
  S/Sgt Hume, J.N.
  S/Sgt Brown, F.E.
  		  2  670th                   
  43-9227  F6-F  A-20G
  Lt Hill, L.E.
  S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr.
  S/Sgt Burch, R.W.
  		  3  670th                   
  43-9380  F6-N  A-20G
  Lt Lesher, R.D.
  S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J.
  S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R.
 
  4  668th                   
  43-9182  5H-B  A-20G
  Lt Miracle, R.V.
  S/Sgt Sieg, B.C.
  S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C.
  		  5  668th                   
  43-9195  5H-D  A-20G
  Lt Bradford, B.H.
  S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W.
  S/Sgt Hill, A.A.
  		  6  668th                   
  43-10176  5H-T  A-20G
  Lt Kreh, E.B.
  S/Sgt Schenck, D.R.
  Sgt Shelton, E.L.
 

Box I -- Flight III
  1  670th                   
  43-9696  F6-G  A-20G
  Capt Conant, H.F.
  S/Sgt McCreery, J.E.
  S/Sgt Sylva, H.J.
  		  2  670th                   
  43-9978  F6-S  A-20G
  Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr.
  S/Sgt Molver, V.E.
  S/Sgt Gray, C.M.
  		  3  670th                   
  43-9209  F6-K  A-20G
  Lt Poindexter, R.D.
  S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.
  T/Sgt Robbins, L.G.
 
  4  668th                   
  43-9963  5H-N  A-20G
  Lt Bartmus, G.F.
  S/Sgt Flacks, F.L.
  S/Sgt Orr, J.R.
  		  5  668th                   
  43-9935  5H-F  A-20G
  Lt Downing, W.E.
  Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr.
  S/Sgt Anderson, E.A.
  		  6  668th                   
  43-10203  5H-R  A-20G
  Lt Cruze, R.K.
  S/Sgt Love, C.F.
  S/Sgt Adair, F.L.
 

Box I
  SPARE  668th               
  43-9701  5H-H  A-20G
  Lt Greene, W.J.
  S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A.
  Sgt Colbert, W.F.
  		                                                           


Box II -- Flight I
  1  668th                   
  43-10125  5H-M  A-20J
  Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr.
  Lt Conte, R.F., Sr.
  S/Sgt Allred, F.D.
  Mr. Hutton		   2  669th                   
  43-10135  2A-T  A-20J
  Capt McNulty, G.M.
  Lt Bursiel, F.H.
  S/Sgt White, H.E.
  S/Sgt Addleman, R.F.		   3  671st                   
  43-9225  5C-G  A-20G
  Lt McGlohn, C.L.
  S/Sgt Moran, J.W.
  Sgt Burns, D.E.
 
  4  671st                   
  43-9951  5C-P  A-20G
  Lt DeMand, F.W.
  S/Sgt Middleton, C.W.
  Sgt Troyer, R.J.
  		  5  671st                   
  43-9493  5C-V  A-20G
  Lt York, R.W.
  Sgt Ashton, L.A.
  Sgt Griswold, R.M.
  		  6  671st                   
  43-9937  5C-B  A-20G
  Lt Durante, A.R.
  S/Sgt Best, H.T.
  S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R.
 

Box II -- Flight II
  1  669th                   
  43-9900  2A-Q  A-20G
  Lt Morton, R.J.
  Sgt Rodgers, H.C.
  Sgt VanDuyne, J.E.
  		  2  669th                   
  43-9390  2A-G  A-20G
  Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr.
  S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr.
  S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I.
  		  3  669th                   
  43-9840  2A-V  A-20G
  Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr.
  S/Sgt Coffey, G.L.
  S/Sgt Cope, G.F.
 
  4  669th                   
  43-9376  2A-O  A-20G
  Lt Peck, W.A.
  S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E.
  S/Sgt Kelton, H.E.
  [No Sortie Greene substituted for Peck]
  		  5  669th                   
  43-9189  2A-P  A-20G
  Lt DeMun, E.E.
  S/Sgt Rosenstein, M.
  S/Sgt Carney, H.O.
  		  6  669th                   
  43-9679  2A-R  A-20G
  Lt Dontas, P.
  S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L.
  S/Sgt Fields, W.E.
 

Box II -- Flight III
  1  668th                   
  43-9444  5H-J  A-20J
  Lt Sommers, H.L.
  Lt McQuade, R.J.
  T/Sgt Kelly, W.J.
  S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G.		   2  669th                   
  43-9983  2A-J  A-20G
  Lt Renth, E.J., Jr.
  S/Sgt LaNave, O.D.
  S/Sgt Citty, F.M.
  		  3  669th                   
  43-9181  2A-A  A-20G
  Lt Land, W.H.
  S/Sgt Alden, S.F.
  S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L.
 
  4  669th                   
  43-9743  2A-W  A-20G
  Lt Siggs, W.C.
  Sgt Nicks, R.W.
  S/Sgt Radlich, N.
  		  5  669th                   
  43-9211  2A-C  A-20G
  Lt Shainberg, N.V.
  S/Sgt Prindle, C.A.
  S/Sgt Epps, E.T.
  		  6  670th                   
  43-9689  F6-I  A-20G
  Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr.
  S/Sgt Kasper, J.F.
  S/Sgt Boyer, H.E.
  [No Sortie Merchant substituted for Hewes]
 

Box II
  SPARE  671st               
  43-9219  5C-D  A-20G
  Lt Merchant, W.A.
  S/Sgt Harp, C.J.
  S/Sgt Brown, K.P.
  		                                                           


Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 48 -- May 15, 1944, Monday AM
Creil, France -- Airfield (S.1604)


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

A day of cloudy weather postponed the next mission to the 15th. Although 37 aircraft took off to attack the Airdrome at Creil, only the first box dropped it bombs. Lt Powell, Major Meng's Bombardier-Navigator, found a hole in the cloud-patched sky and dropped his bombs squarely onto the aiming point. By the time that Lt Conte, Captain Hulse's Bombardier-Navigator, came onto the target area, a cloud obscured the field from his view. Only one pass was made on the target. No flak was encountered along the route.


"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
 Page 77

Mission #48 - 15 May - Creil Airdrome. Major Meng and Lt. Powell, BN led Box I with Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN leading Box II. Clouds started to accumulate and Lt. Powell was able to find an opening in the clouds, enabling him to drop his bombs. Conte could not see the target due to clouds, and only made one pass at the target, and returned to base. Spitfires covered us from enemy aircraft, and little flak was seen.


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

Major Meng led the longest mission flown to date when on May 15th the Criel airdrome, just outside of Paris, was attacked. Six of our crews took part in this attack, which was rated as excellent.

Orders were received on the 15th alerting the squadron for movement overseas. This started the usual activity connected with a contemplated move, such as showdown inspections, checking of records, etc.

Also on the 15th, Lt Kehres was promoted to Captain, and 2d Lt McGlohn to 1st Lt. 2d Lt Rozell B. Hall, twin-engine pilot, joined the squadron.


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

Take-off, assembly, fighter rendezvous, and bomber rendezvous were normal and according to schedule on the mission of May 15th , 1944. Major Meng with Lt. Powell led Box 1, while Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte led Box II. The target was Criel Airport in France.

Landfall was made at the correct point of entry, and then followed a superb bit of navigation over 10/10 cloud cover to the initiation point and target. The target, consisting of a large and small hanger, was completely demolished by Box 1. Box 11 failed to drop because a stray cloud moved in over the target after Box 1 had dropped.

Light, inaccurate flak was experienced at the target. Return to base was made without incident and there was no battle damage to the ships.

Previous Mission # 47            Mission List            Next Mission # 49

Return to Table of Contents