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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 99 -- July 16, 1944, Sunday PM St. Hilaire Du Harcouet, France Road Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 99 -- July 16, 1944, Sunday PM St. Hilaire Du Harcouet, France Road Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 32 Total -- 26 A-20G's, 4 A-20J's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Tactical Target Dossier: 4802W/B/23 Illustration : 4802W/15 Illustration Ref : 021030 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Unobserved. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.58160,-1.09180 (48° 34' 54" N, 1° 5' 30" 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) |
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 99 -- July 16, 1944, Sunday PM
St. Hilaire Du Harcouet, France -- Road Bridge
| 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 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
| 1 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. Sgt Martinez, L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
2 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt Paules, E.F. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
3 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
2 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Cummings, W.D. Sgt Cochran, R.L. |
3 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, C.L. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
| 4 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. Sgt Dias, M.E. |
| 1 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
2 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
3 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
| 4 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. S/Sgt Zeikus, A.J. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. [No Sortie Returned Early as Briefed] |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
2 669th 43-21712 2A-H A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Madenfort, J. Sgt Dugan, J.D., Jr. Sgt Curtis, L.B. |
3 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Giesy, S.H., Jr. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
| 1 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
2 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
3 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Clausen, T. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
| 4 668th 43-9975 5H-W A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. S/Sgt Love, C.F. |
| 1 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
2 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
3 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
| 4 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
| 1 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
3 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. Sgt Heath, K. [No Sortie Returned Early as Briefed] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 99 -- July 16, 1944, Sunday PM
St. Hilaire Du Harcouet, France -- Road Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Two days later, 30 planes attacked the St Hailaire du Harcourt road bridge. Again clouds necessitated the use of PFF. The results were unobserved. Major Meng, Lt Powell, B-N, and Captain McNulty, Lt Bursiel B-N, led the boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 109
Mission #99 - 16 July - St. Hillaire Du Harcourt Railroad RR embankment. Following two delays in the morning, this mission took off in the afternoon. Bombing was done through clouds following B-26 Pathfinder planes. Captain McNulty and Lt. Burseil, BN and Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led flights. This mission was 3:45 hours with results of the bomb drops unavailable.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Eleven crews took part in a group mission against the St Hilaire Du H road bridge on July 16th.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
July 7th û July 16th , 1944
During the period from the Seventh of July through the 16th of July, the Group ran only six missions. The main reason for the slackening up has been the bad weather. The missions which were run were led by B-26 Pathfinders and the "bomb through cloud" technique was put into use. Many times during this period the crews went out to the ships, but were called back when the mission was delayed and then usually scrubbed. However, every now and then the group was able to sneak in a mission before it could be called off. That alone accounts for the six sorties in the last ten days... rather six missions.
No planes were downed by enemy action during this time and no crews were injured by flak. Quite a bit of flak was met on a few missions and some of the planes were shot up, although none serious.
Odds and Ends
On July 8th , 1944 Lt. Pair went on his third mission, the first in nearly three months. Lt. Ames and Lt. Withington are now regularly seen on the loading lists. These two pilots joined the Squadron a short time ago and have been doing pretty well for the length of time, with the Group S.O.P.s that each has had to contend with. Lt. Lackovich, a recent addition, is sweating out his first mission and is scheduled to go on the morning mission of July 18th ... after having completed a refresher transition course as put forth by Group Operations.
Just recently all of the older pilots -those who have been with the Squadron prior to coming overseas -have completed, or are preparing to do so their seven day operational leave. The regular 48-hour passes are still in affect. London has not been a very favorable spot to vacation lately as the Jerries have been putting up quite a few flying bombs. The boys complain about lack of sleep, although it is believed that there is a more underlying train of thought behind this lack of sleep excuse.
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[July 16, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, July 16, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |