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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 8 -- March 23, 1944, Thursday AM Montdidier, France Airdrome
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 8 -- March 23, 1944, Thursday AM Montdidier, France Airdrome
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 36 A-20's Target Operational Number: Z 474 Illustration : S 5425/4 Illustration Ref : 042080, 019045 Summary of Results : No Attack - Navigational error. Missed change of course on first leg - flew on to outskirts of Paris - then took a heading home. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.64861,2.57083 (49° 38' 55" N, 2° 34' 15" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Selected Town center - Montdidier, France) (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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 1944 Thursday |
No_Report | 43-9673 A-20G |
8 | 669 | Wethersfield/Sta 170 | Perkins, Ronald D. (WIA)
Sherry, Vincent N. (Not Injured) Linneman, Robert H. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 8 -- March 23, 1944, Thursday AM
Montdidier, France -- Airdrome
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Towles, C.S., Jr. Lt Smith, W.L. Lt Pape, M.A. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. Sgt Malone, E.C. |
2 671st 43-9707 5C-H A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. Sgt Brayn, M.R. [A/C #707 and Crew scratched] |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| 4 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Maj Radetsky, H.A. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
5 670th 43-9696 F6-G A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Cpl Swafford, J.O., Jr. Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 1 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. |
2 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
3 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Falk, F.G. |
| 4 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt McNulty, G.M. S/Sgt Frey, J.A. Sgt Moran, J.W. |
5 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Friedlob, E.M. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
6 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. Sgt Colbert, W.F. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt Conant, H.F. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
2 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
3 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
5 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. [A/C #225, G-1 substituted for #202, B] |
6 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. |
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Jedinak, A. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. |
2 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Hixon, S.M. Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
3 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. Sgt Corrin, E.W. |
| 4 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Platter, E.T. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
6 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 1 671st 43-9203 5C-A A-20G Capt Dunn, L.F. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. Sgt Werley, E.R. |
2 671st 43-9218 5C-C A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
| 4 671st 43-9699 5C-I A-20G Lt Marzolf, L.A. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Cowgill, G.W. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. Sgt Rust, E.W. |
6 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Col Aylesworth, T.R. Sgt Ochaba, J.A. Capt McClellan, A. |
| 1 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Capt Clark, R.A. Lt McQuade, R.J. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
2 669th 43-9370 2A-D A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Raines, A.A., Jr. S/Sgt Nielsen, J.O. S/Sgt Bender, G.J. |
| 4 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
5 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. Sgt Huber, A.J. |
6 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 8 -- March 23, 1944, Thursday AM
Montdidier, France -- Airdrome
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the 23rd, the first complete 36-ship formation was flown. Riding "piggy back" in the nose of a new A-20-J flown by Major Towles, the Group Navigator and Bombardier, Lt. Max A. Pepe and Lt. William L. Smith, led a formation in what was to be an attack on an Airfield at Montdidier. Major Radetsky, who had previous combat experience in England and North Africa, was Deputy Leader. The formation missed the target and flew to the outskirts of Paris. Excellent evasive action got them through the flak with a minimum of damage to the planes.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 23rd of March the target was the Mondidier airdrome. We had four crews on this mission.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Take off was at 1054 for the same target as yesterday. This Squadron furnished twelve of thirty-six ships, one and two flights of the second box. The formation made rendezvous with "Spits" and entered Enemy Coast at 1149. At first we thought it would be a "Milk Run", as we encountered no flak at the coast, however, just as everyone began relaxing the "Stuff" started coming up in groups of 4 and 6 bursts, both black and white, under the boxes and above the boxes, between the boxes and in the boxes, all quite accurate with visual sightings.
The formation proceeded to the initial point, passed over it and kept going; lost. After making several corrections to the right when we should have been going left, the Seine River came into view and in the near distance Paris, with its Eiffel Tower. At this point the formation swung around to the left and began backtracking up to the target. Most of the pilots except the crew in the lead ship saw the target on the right as we flew by trying to find the initial point. Shortly after this, we flew almost over Poix and in turn, Poix greeted the formation with a bit of heavy and accurate flak. After moderate evasive action the formation was out of range of these guns, only to run into flak again just South and East of Dieppe, at which time evasive action was begun again to avoid the town and leave the coast where we came in.
The trip back was uneventful, however, upon landing 2nd Lt. Ronald D. Perkins had to use the air bottle, as he landed about two thirds down the runway. Upon investigation, we learned that he received a flesh wound in the side of his chest beneath his left arm. 1st Lt. George W. Cowgill's hydraulic system was shot out and that in turn made another " Air Bottle" landing without flaps.
As far as could be found out, all except five of the ships received Battle Damage due to flak. Only one enemy fighter was observed and it was being chase earthward by two Spitfires of our escort.
The mission was unsuccessful, due to the navigation of the lead ship.
Weather CAVU