 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 60 -- May 28, 1944, Sunday PM Vacqueriette, France NOBALL (XI/A/83)
|
 |
Previous Mission # 59 Mission List Next Mission # 61 Return to Table of Contents
|
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 60 -- May 28, 1944, Sunday PM Vacqueriette, France NOBALL (XI/A/83)
|
|
Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 19 Total -- 16 A-20G's, 3 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 3075 Illustration : A/83/1 Illustration Ref : 031026 Summary of Results : Fair Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.32056,2.07222 (50° 19' 14" N, 2° 4' 20" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on V1 Sites, VACQUERIETTE) (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 # 60 -- May 28, 1944, Sunday PM
Vacqueriette, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/83)
| 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 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
| 4 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
5 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Wipperman, R.A. S/Sgt Ahrens, H.S. Sgt Mazza, L.C. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
| 4 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. Sgt Zeikus, A.J. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
6 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. Sgt Zygiel, L.A. Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
| 1 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-10157 F6-P A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
3 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. Cpl McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
| 4 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
5 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
6 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 60 -- May 28, 1944, Sunday PM
Vacqueriette, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/83)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Shaken, yes, but no less determined; before the end of the next day, our crews were off on three missions. An important naval R.D.F. Headquarters at Bruges/St Michal was the target in the morning. Bombing in boxes of 14's, against a small target, the results were only fair. Major Meng, Captain Jackson, and Captain Dunn led the boxes.
Simultaneous attacks were made in the afternoon on Noball targets at Vacqueriette and Behen. The box led by Major Willetts, with Lt Royalty, B-N, hit the first target with a good concentration of bombs in the target area. The other box led by Major Campbell, with Lt Palin, B-N, suspended the Behen target with well-placed hits.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 82
Mission #60 - 28 May - PM - Vacqueriette Noball. This was a
mission where two boxes were to bomb individual targets. One
box, led by Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN were assigned the
Vacqueriette Noball. This box was to lead a box of planes from
the 409th to the target. A good concentration of hits on the target
was reported. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led a flight.
There was mild flak to contend with which gave a new
gunner S/Sgt Francis L. Flacks, something to remind him what
may be in store for him and the group in the future. He got hit
with a shot of flak, causing serious enough injuries to require
hospitalization. Some mild humor came of this when "Flacks
caught flak" evolved. You can imagine who didn't think it was so
funny, lying in bed, all bandaged up.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
From May 23rd to May 30th, the squadron flew a total of ninety-eight
sorties on missions to attack the Beaumont-LeRoger airdrome; the
Abbeville-Drucat airdrome; the Monchy-Breton airdrome; the Beauvais-
Tille airdrome; the Amiens marshalling yards; the Bruges-St Michiel
Naval Radar Direction Finder Station in Belgium; the Vacqueriette
Noball site; the Behen Noball site; the Achiet airdrome and the
Denain-Prouby airdrome.
Lt Crispino was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries
sustained on the 19th, and Sgt Zaklikiewicz for wounds sustained on
May 26th.
The Stars and Strips carried an article on May 24th, which
concerned the group. In the story about veteran gunners of other
campaigns of this war, S/Sgt Riley and S/Sgt Kidd of our unit,
received credit due them for previous operational experience. (See
Exhibit # 19 attached.)
Lt Maltby received his promotion to 1st Lt on May 22nd.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
The 416th crossed the Channel 10 times from May 26th through June 4th to paste the enemy Airdromes, Marshalling Yards and No-Balls in air operations which were intended to knock the blocks from under the Nazis transportation, communication, and defense set-up in occupied France.