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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 66 -- June 4, 1944, Sunday PM St. Pierre Du Mont, France Coastal Battery
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 66 -- June 4, 1944, Sunday PM St. Pierre Du Mont, France Coastal Battery
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 43 Total -- 37 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4901W/J/1 Illustration : 4901W/30 (SECOND EDITION) Illustration Ref : 087065 Summary of Results : Box 1 - Bombs fell in two patterns, one pattern in fields approximately 1 mile southeast and the other 1300 yards east of target area. Box 2 - Majority of bombs dropped on premature release by deputy leader and falling 1 mile south of target area, the others falling within 150 feet of desired MPI. Box 3 - Excellent Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.39637,-0.98893 (49° 23' 47" N, 0° 59' 20" W) (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) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 1944 Sunday |
No_Report | 43-10125 A-20J |
66 | 668 | Rome Station, England | Conant, Hiram Francis (Not Injured)
McBrien, Richard T. (WIA) Kelly, Earnest E. (Not Injured) Coe, William H. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 66 -- June 4, 1944, Sunday PM
St. Pierre Du Mont, France -- Coastal Battery
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
| 4 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
6 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| 1 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
3 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. Sgt Shelton, E.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
| 1 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. Sgt Newell, S.P. |
2 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
3 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
| 4 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
| 1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Capt Conant, H.F. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
3 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Paules, E.F. Sgt Martinez, L. |
| 4 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
| 1 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Maj Radetsky, H.A. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
| 1 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-10148 2A-H A-20G Lt Church, C. S/Sgt Maciulewicz, P.P. S/Sgt Shatzer, H.E. |
3 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Wipperman, R.A. S/Sgt Ahrens, H.S. Sgt Mazza, L.C. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. Sgt Young, J.O. Sgt Garrett, A.D. |
6 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. Sgt Jones, R.J. Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
| 1 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
2 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. Sgt Zygiel, L.A. Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
3 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. Sgt Schrom, R.G. Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| 4 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 1 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
2 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. Sgt Rodgers, H.C. Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 66 -- June 4, 1944, Sunday PM
St. Pierre Du Mont, France -- Coastal Battery
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the 4th, forty-three aircraft took off to bomb a coastal defense battery at St. Pierre du Mont, on the invasion coast. Near misses were scored on a command post and on four gun positions. Dropping our greatest tonnage of bombs, 50 1/2 tons, the three boxes were led by Maj. Meng, Capt. Jackson, and Lt. Marzolf.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 90 - 91
Mission #66 - 4 June - St. Pierre du Mont Coastal Guns.
Major Meng and Lt. Powell, BN led Box I and Captain Conant
and Lt. McBrien, BN. led Box II Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte,
BN, plus Lts. Marzolf and Basnett, BN led flights. While flak
was considered light, it managed to hit a few of our planes.
Major Radetsky had one engine shot out. When he climbed out
of his cockpit, he noticed three flak holes very near to where he
was sitting. Near misses, are sometimes okay. Captain Conant
had dropped their bombs and then they took a flak shot. His radio
and VHF equipment caught fire, giving his gunners a hard time
putting out the blaze, but they managed to do so. One engine was
out, and his hydraulic lines were damaged severely. In addition,
one wing bomb did not release, leaving it hanging from its
shackle. Lt. McBrien, in the nose of the ship called to say he was
bleeding, but the wound was found to be minor. Conant had a
problem lowering his wheels, but managed a safe landing.
June 5 was a stand down day due to weather, but the
planes were all being painted in three alternate black and white
stripes on the wings and the fuselage. All personnel were called
back to base, and no passes were available. Something big was
coming, but nothing specific.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The pre-Invasion missions took quite a heavy toll in battle damage and casualties. On 4th June, the A-20J piloted by Captain Hiram F. Conant, Squadron Operations Officer, was hit by enemy ground fire while on a mission against the Coastal Battery of St. Pierre Dumont. The bombardier-navigator, Lieutenant Richard T. McBrien, was wounded in the legs by flak fragments. In spite of this, Captain Conant successfully attacked the target and brought the severely damaged craft back to England, where he landed at Rome Station. The gunners, Staff Sergeants Earnest E. Kelly and William H. Coe, extinguished two fires in the VHF equipment, thus saving the ship from crashing in flames.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Restriction of all personnel to the base was put into effect on June 4th. Gunners, bombardiers and pilots on leave were called back. Men began trooping to the rifle ranges to sharpen their shooting eyes. For, though nothing was definite, everyone had a good idea as to what was coming. On this day Major Meng led a formation, in which we had twelve crews, to attack a gun position at St Pierre du Mont.
"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.