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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 112 -- August 4, 1944, Friday PM Beauvais, France Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 112 -- August 4, 1944, Friday PM Beauvais, France Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 31 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Number : 4902E/C/32 Secondary Target : Buchy Railroad Junction (4901E/C/17) Summary of Results : Three flights scored Good, one Gross, one No coverage and one PNB. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.42638,2.08868 (49° 25' 35" N, 2° 5' 19" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Selected RR near Town center - Beauvais, France) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information.) |
Loading List 1, Box I
Loading List 2, Box II
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 112 -- August 4, 1944, Friday PM
Beauvais, France -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
2 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. Sgt Raines, D.E. Lt Lindsay, G.E. [Lt Lindsay (4th Combat Camera Unit)] |
3 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. Sgt Robinson, J.W. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. Sgt Roberts, J.H. |
5 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Welsh, A.J. Sgt Wright, R.E. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Lt DeMand, F.W. Lt Hanlon, R.J. S/Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
| 4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. [Returned Early No Sortie Radio & Interphone Out] |
5 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. [Not Airborne Brakes Out] |
5 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Murray, T.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. [Returned Early No Sortie Right Oil Pump Out] |
6 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Withington, D.L. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. Sgt Huss, C.F. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. S/Sgt Dias, M.E. S/Sgt Nowosielski, H.J. |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. Sgt Mayhew, A.E. S/Sgt Judd, E.R. |
2 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
3 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Andersen, C.J. Sgt Euga, P.G. Sgt Shafer, E.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9935 5H-F A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. Sgt Newell, S.P. |
5 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
6 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Lowe, R.R. Pvt Perkins, H.W. |
2 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
3 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. S/Sgt Young, C.E. |
| 4 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F. Sgt Scott, J.O. Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
6 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
3 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. |
| 4 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. |
5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
6 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Hay, J.E. Sgt Buskirk, J.A. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 112 -- August 4, 1944, Friday PM
Beauvais, France -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the 4th, our planes took off again to hit a marshalling yard in Beauvais ----at one time a dreaded flak area. Major Price, Lt Hand, B-N, and Captain McNulty, Lt Bursiel, B-N, led the two boxes. The results ranged from good to excellent. All thru lines and choke points between the up siding and down siding were severed by several direct hits.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 121
Mission #112 - 4 August - Beauvais Marshalling Yard. Major
Price with Lt. Hand, BN led Box I with Captain McNulty and Lt.
Burseil, BN leading Box II. Lts. DeMand and Hanlon, BN plus
Lts. Cole and Basnett, BN led flights. Flak greeted the formation
near the target, but all flights got their bombs away. Evasive
action by the lead plane prevented damage to the planes, with all
returning to base with little or no damage. Bombing results were
rated good.
Regarding evasive action, it was the lead navigator to
direct the pilot and the entire formation on what some may consider
zig-zag turns, but very gently. The leader had to estimate
the time between bursts from the gun nozzles and the time it
would take for that shell to explode at their flying level. Usually,
at 12,000 feet flying altitude, we figured it would take about 12
seconds for the flak to explode after it left the gun, so the lead
man would have to time his directional flights one way or the
other, changing compass directions, every 10 or twelve seconds,
but at the same time not losing the route designed to take the formation
to the target. Flying straight and level during a flak attack
was risky, since gunners would anticipate your direction and
shoot for it before you got there, so we had to change paths to
evade the bursts. It didn't work all the time. but it was effective
most of the time. Evasive action was never taken on the bomb
run since the sighting of the target with the Norden Bombsight
had to be true on a straight approach. This is where the bombers
were at more risk since the AA gunners knew what they had to
do to score hits on the planes. It worked well for them.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The next mission, on the 4th, was an attack on the Beauvais marshalling yard. All through lines and choke points were severed by several direct hits. Major Napier, Lt. Madenfort, B-N, led a flight.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
August 3rd saw the departure of the Commanding Officer of our
Group, when Colonel Harold L. Mace left to assume command of the 98th
Combat Wing. Lt Colonel Theodore R. Aylesworth took over command of
the Group.
A traveling group of interviewers visited the base on August 4th
from IX Bomber Command to determine the views of enlisted men and
officers as to post war attitudes and desires. Personnel from the
various sections were interviewed and completed a War Department
questionnaire on the subject.
Many men on the base this day witnessed the exploding of a B-17 in
mid-air. Nine parachutes were observed leaving the ship, which crashed
three miles from Wethersfield.
Seven 670th crews participated in a mission on this date,
successfully attacking the Beauvais marshalling yards.
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[August 4, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, August 4, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |