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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 19 -- April 18, 1944, Tuesday PM Monceau Sur Sambre, Belgium Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 19 -- April 18, 1944, Tuesday PM Monceau Sur Sambre, Belgium Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Operational Number: ZB 116B Illustration : NEG. 5040 Illustration Ref : 028063 Secondary Target : Cherleroi-Montignias. Casual Target: Chieveres Airdrome (ZB115. Casual: ZB50) Summary of Results : The first box at 12000 feet dropped a total of 76 bombs in the target area with good results. The lead bombardier in the second box failed to identify the target in time to make the bombing run. There was no attempt to make a second run and this box did not drop any bombs. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.39430,4.38369 (50° 23' 39" N, 4° 23' 1" E) (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 # 19 -- April 18, 1944, Tuesday PM
Monceau Sur Sambre, Belgium -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. Cpl Rapacz, H.S. [Rapacz (4th CCU)] |
2 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Col Mace, H.L. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. |
| 4 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Lt McNulty, G.M. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
6 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
| 1 671st 43-9707 5C-H A-20G Capt Dunn, L.F. S/Sgt Best, H.T. Lt Sutliff, G.F. [Sutliff (4th CCU)] |
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 Adams, J.D. Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. Cpl Zeikus, A.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. Cpl Troyer, R.J. |
5 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Cowgill, G.W. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. S/Sgt Rust, E.W. |
6 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Palin, W.H. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
3 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Norton, C.Q. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
| 4 670th 43-9696 F6-G A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. Cpl Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
2 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
3 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. |
| 4 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Lt Col Farmer, W.W. Lt Smith, W.L. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
5 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
6 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Capt Clark, R.A. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
2 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
3 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. |
| 4 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
5 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
6 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Shields, J.J. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
| 1 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Marzolf, L.A. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Stockwell, R.E. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
3 671st 43-9203 5C-A A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
| 4 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. |
6 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 19 -- April 18, 1944, Tuesday PM
Monceau Sur Sambre, Belgium -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
After a four day lapse in operations due to bad flying weather, 38 planes left to bomb the Marshalling yards at Charleroi/St. Martin, Belgium, on the 18th. The first box led by Major Meng with Lt. Powell, B/N, bombed the target with fair results. The second box led by Major Price with Lt. Hand, B/N, could not identify the target in time for a bomb run. Despite the long trip over enemy-occupied country, not a plane received battle damage.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 51 - 52
Mission #19 - 18 April - Charloi - St. Martin. The weather cleared on April 18th, when 38 planes took off to bomb a different target from NoBalls, a marshalling yard at Charloi-St. Martin, in Belgium. Major Meng and Lt. Powell, BN led the first box with Major Price and Lt. Hand, BN the second box leader. Bomb bursts on an engine repair shed and a power house, along with marshalling yard tracks made for a successful attack. The second box was unable to pick up the target, so did not drop their load. Flights led by Captain McNulty and Lt. Conte, BN, and Captain Dunn, and Lt. Sutliffe, BN, participated. Considerable damage was done to the facility, with little or inaccurate flak being encountered. No plane received battle damage.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The lull in flying activity proved to be a needed rest, for in the next six days a total of seventy-one sorties were flown by this squadron. The Charleroi-St Martin Marshalling Yards were attacked on April 18th, with Major Meng leading the mission, and eight of our crews taking part.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Finally the 416th Bomb Group got a chance in target design.... The marshalling yards at Charleroi St. Martin. Take-off was late in the afternoon. The formation returned well before dusk.
The ships left the English coast and made landfall near Ostend, and proceeded to the target. Very little and inaccurate flak was encountered during the tour of the continent. The target was hit.... Bursts were seen on a engine repair shed, a power house and marshalling yards proper. One flight dropped their bombs slightly over the target, but it is believed the they luckily hit locke in a nearby canal, causing some damage. The second box failed to drop their eggs.
The trip home was without incident and even though the formation was over enemy territory for forty to fifty minutes no fighter reaction was noted. All planes returned safely.