416th BG Mission 50

Missing Air Crew Reports, Aircraft Accident Reports, and other incidents
Date	Report	A/C Serial # Type	Mis- sion #	Bomb Sq	Location	Personnel (Status when available)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9840 A-20G	50	669		MacManus, Patrick F.E. Jr. (WIA) Rogers, John L. Jr. (Not Injured) Fleischman, Glenn I. (Not Injured)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9189 A-20G	50	669		Boukamp, Tonnis NMI (Not Injured) Colosimo, Russell Joseph (Not Injured) Wing, Jeong Shew (WIA)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9227 A-20G	50	670	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Brown, Neil Gates (Not Injured) Burns, Donald E. (WIA) Maziasz, Chester W. (Not Injured)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9363 A-20G	50	671		Cole, Hilary Primus (Not Injured) Fandre, Benjamin Gust (WIA) Chvatal, Franklin R. (Not Injured)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9714 A-20G	50	671	England	Henderson, Floyd William (Not Injured) Griswold, Richard M. (Not Injured) Coulombe, Phillippe E. (Not Injured)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9379 A-20G	50	668		Hill, Luther E. (WIA) Burch, Robert W. (Not Injured) Yost, Clarence H. Jr. (Not Injured)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	MACR 4972	43-9216 A-20G	50	668	Montdidier, France	Bradford, Blair Hodgson (MIA, KIA) Gray, Clarence Martin (MIA, POW, RMC, RTD) Molver, Vern Edward (MIA, POW, RMC, RTD)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	MACR 4971	43-9211 A-20G	50	668	Londiniers, France	Kleopfel, Michael Edward Jr. (MIA, KIA) Bankston, Ray NMI Jr. (MIA, POW, RMC, RTD) Shaw, LeRoy Richard (MIA, POW, RMC, RTD)
May 20, 1944 Saturday	No_Report	43-9225 A-20G	50	671		Merchant, William A. (WIA) Harp, Clifford J. (Not Injured) Brown, Kenneth P. (Not Injured)

Mission # 50 -- May 20, 1944, Saturday AM
Beauvais/Tille, France -- Airdrome (S.804)

Box I -- Flight I
1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A.	2 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E.	3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C.
4 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. S/Sgt Brower, J.S.	5 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J.	6 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. Sgt Zeikus, A.J.

Box I -- Flight I

1 671st
43-9914 5C-X A-20J
Maj Willetts, D.L.
Lt Royalty, P.G.
T/Sgt Larronde, F.H.
S/Sgt Lempka, H.A.

2 669th
43-9442 2A-D A-20J
Lt Sommers, H.L.
Lt McQuade, R.J.
S/Sgt Kasper, J.F.
S/Sgt Boyer, H.E.

3 671st
43-9220 5C-E A-20G
Lt Zubon, M.
T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L.
S/Sgt Russell, W.C.

4 671st
43-9221 5C-F A-20G
Lt Wheeler, R.V.
S/Sgt Corrin, E.W.
S/Sgt Brower, J.S.

5 671st
43-9493 5C-V A-20G
Lt Smith, R.H.
S/Sgt Stockham, A.A.
Sgt Mahoney, R.J.

6 671st
43-9711 5C-M A-20G
Lt Adams, J.D.
S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr.
Sgt Zeikus, A.J.

Box I -- Flight II
1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F.	2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L.	3 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E.
4 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I.	5 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Radlich, N. Sgt Nicks, R.W.	6 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S.

Box I -- Flight II

1 669th
43-10135 2A-T A-20J
Capt Huff, M.J.
Lt Kupits, J.
S/Sgt Thompson, J.B.
S/Sgt Hatch, H.F.

2 669th
43-9181 2A-A A-20G
Lt Land, W.H.
S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E.
S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L.

3 669th
43-9390 2A-G A-20G
Lt Dontas, P.
S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L.
S/Sgt Fields, W.E.

4 669th
43-9840 2A-V A-20G
Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr.
S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr.
S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I.

5 669th
43-9743 2A-W A-20G
Lt Siggs, W.C.
S/Sgt Radlich, N.
Sgt Nicks, R.W.

6 669th
43-9189 2A-P A-20G
Lt Boukamp, T.
S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J.
S/Sgt Wing, J.S.

Box I -- Flight III
1 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. Sgt Blackford, D.S.	2 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. Sgt Johnson, J.L.	3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S.
4 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F.	5 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Maziasz, C.W.	6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Burger, L.C.

Box I -- Flight III

1 670th
43-9978 F6-S A-20G
Lt Rudisill, R.S.
S/Sgt Riley, R.K.
Sgt Blackford, D.S.

2 670th
43-9380 F6-N A-20G
Lt Johnson, E.L.
S/Sgt Donahue, W.J.
Sgt Johnson, J.L.

3 670th
43-9224 F6-E A-20G
Lt Monroe, H.A.
S/Sgt Kidd, W.L.
S/Sgt Risko, S.

4 670th
43-9750 F6-M A-20G
Lt Greene, W.J.
S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A.
S/Sgt Colbert, W.F.

5 670th
43-9227 F6-F A-20G
Lt Brown, N.G.
Sgt Burns, D.E.
Sgt Maziasz, C.W.

6 670th
43-9892 F6-L A-20G
Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O.
S/Sgt Griffin, E.L.
Sgt Burger, L.C.

Box I
SPARE 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L.

Box II -- Flight I
1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P.	2 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P.	3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. Sgt Ashton, L.A.
4 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R.	5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.	6 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E.

Box II -- Flight I

1 671st
43-9645 5C-R A-20J
Capt Dunn, L.F.
Lt Arrington, H.T.
S/Sgt Marion, H.A.
S/Sgt Adams, V.P.

2 670th
43-9455 F6-T A-20J
Capt Jackson, C.R.
Lt Maltby, A.H.
S/Sgt Stobert, R.F.
S/Sgt Glynn, F.P.

3 671st
43-9219 5C-D A-20G
Lt York, R.W.
S/Sgt Wilds, H.J.
Sgt Ashton, L.A.

4 671st
43-9363 5C-L A-20G
Lt Cole, H.P.
S/Sgt Fandre, B.G.
S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R.

5 669th
43-9717 2A-N A-20G
Lt Greenley, R.E.
S/Sgt Worden, H.C.
S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.

6 671st
43-9714 5C-N A-20G
Lt Henderson, F.W.
Sgt Griswold, R.M.
Sgt Coulombe, P.E.

Box II -- Flight II
1 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr.	2 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.	3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. S/Sgt Hume, J.N.
4 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L.	5 668th 43-10203 5H-R A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr.	6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R.

Box II -- Flight II

1 668th
43-10194 5H-A A-20G
Lt Shaefer, R.F.
S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr.
S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr.

2 668th
43-10176 5H-T A-20G
Lt Poindexter, R.D.
T/Sgt Robbins, L.G.
S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.

3 668th
43-9907 5H-O A-20G
Lt Siracusa, L.J.
S/Sgt Brown, F.E.
S/Sgt Hume, J.N.

4 668th
43-9963 5H-N A-20G
Lt Peede, L.G.
S/Sgt Sieg, B.C.
S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L.

5 668th
43-10203 5H-R A-20G
Lt Downing, W.E.
S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S.
Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr.

6 670th
43-9689 F6-I A-20G
Lt Bartmus, G.F.
Sgt Shelton, E.L.
S/Sgt Schenck, D.R.

Box II -- Flight III
1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt Prentiss, R.B. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L.	2 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr.	3 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr.
4 668th 43-9935 5H-F A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A.	5 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. S/Sgt Molver, V.E.	6 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Kleopfel, M.E., Jr. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, L.R.

Box II -- Flight III

1 668th
43-9640 5H-Z A-20J
Capt Prentiss, R.B.
Lt Lytle, W.M.
S/Sgt Orr, J.R.
S/Sgt Flacks, F.L.

2 668th
43-9182 5H-B A-20G
Lt Cruze, R.K.
S/Sgt Anderson, E.A.
S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr.

3 668th
43-9379 5H-G A-20G
Lt Hill, L.E.
S/Sgt Burch, R.W.
S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr.

4 668th
43-9935 5H-F A-20G
Lt Meagher, J.F.
Sgt Hantske, D.
S/Sgt Damico, E.A.

5 668th
43-9216 5H-E A-20G
Lt Bradford, B.H.
S/Sgt Gray, C.M.
S/Sgt Molver, V.E.

6 669th
43-9211 2A-C A-20G
Lt Kleopfel, M.E., Jr.
S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr.
Sgt Shaw, L.R.

Box II
SPARE 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 50 -- May 20, 1944, Saturday AM
Beauvais/Tille, France -- Airdrome (S.804)

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

Mission number 50 was completed in the afternoon on the 20th. It was a costly one for us. Thirty-eight planes took off. Two planes were lost over enemy territory, one plane crash-landed in the U.K., destroyed, twenty-six planes returned with battle damage. Poor visibility caused the Monteidier Airfield to be mistaken for the correct target, the airfield at Beauvais-Tille. From the planes that were lost, three chutes came from one, and two chutes from the other. The crews of the planes were Lt Blair H. Bradford, S/Sgt Clarence M. Gray, S/Sgt Vern E. Molver, Lt Michael E. Kleopfel, S/Sgt Ray Bankston, and S/Sgt LeRoy R. Shaw. It was Lt Henderson who had to crash land in the U.K. Neither he nor his gunners were injured. The boxes were led by Major Willetts and Captain Dunn, with Lts Royalty and Arrington as Bombardier-Navigators.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 78

Mission #50 - 20 May AM - Beauvais-Tolle Airdrome. This was a costly mission for the group, with 38 planes taking off, 26 returned with heavy damage. Major Willetts and Captain Dunn with BNs Lt. Royalty and Arrington led boxes. The target area was known to be heavily defended. The lead navigator became confused and became lost. He wound up bombing the airfield at Montidier, which wasn't such a bad deal after all. The major problem was the loss of three planes, and of course, their crews. Lt. Bradford with gunners S/Sgt Vern E. McIver [Molver] and S/Sgt Clarence Gray, and Lt. Mitchell E. Keopfel (who was promoted to 1st Lt. today), with his gunners S/Sgt. Ray Bankston and Leroy R. Shaw, all went down in France. A total of only three chutes were seen to come down. Lt. F. W. Henderson with gunners Sgts. P. E. Colombe and R. M. Griswold crash landed in England. Neither he nor his gunners were injured. Lt. Joseph Meager with gunners Damico and Hantake brought their badly damaged ship back to England and another crash landing without injury. Lt. Merchant came back on single engine. He had received cuts about the face when his instrument panel was shot out. Lt. York and Wipperman landed in some open fields, with damage to their gas tanks.

"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

During May the Squadron also suffered its first combat losses. On 20 May two combat crews were missing in action, including the following personnel:

                    1st Lt  Blair H. Bradford  (Pilot) 
                    S Sgt   Clarence M. Gray   (Mechanic-Gunner) 
                    S Sgt   Verne E. Molver    (Armorer-Gunner) 



                    1st Lt  Michael E. Kleopfel (Pilot) 
                    S Sgt   Ray Bankston Jr.   (Mechanic-Gunner) 
                    S Sgt   Leroy R. Shaw      (Armorer-Gunner)

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

The necessities of war gave scant pause for death, and the next day, 20 May, seven crews took part in the first mission which was another attack on the Beauvais-Tille airdrome. The late mission of the day was an attack on the Cormeilles-en-Vixen airdrome. Excellent results were achieved on the mission on which twelve of our crews participated. Sgt Burns received the Purple Heart for his wounds sustained over the Tille airdrome.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

Faulty navigation was responsible for the 416th Bomb Group missing its scheduled target on the morning of May 20th , 1944...the airdrome at Beauvois-Fille, but the airfield at Montidier, looking quite similar to the former target, was hit instead and the mission did not go as a complete failure. Several dispersal areas were hit.

Two crews from the 668th Bomb Squadron went down near the target, but five parachutes were seen to have opened. Lt. Bradford and Lt. Kleopfel piloted the two ships. Lt. Merchant returned on a single engine, making a force landing in a wheat field adjoining Great Sailing. Lt. Merchant received cuts about the face when a flak burst smashed his windshield. (The farmers of Essex have put a price on the "Feathers" head because this was the second field he has plowed up in a weeks time. Remember the cub?)

Lt. Wipperman and Lt. York landed at nearby fields due to flak damage to their gas tanks.

With both boxes dropping their bombs on dispersal areas and buildings, the 416th rained havoc on the airfield at Corneille Eu Vexin late in the afternoon. Results were classified as excellent, Major Campbell and Captain Clark led the formation. Flak was mild and all the ships returned.