9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 93 -- July 7, 1944, Friday PM

Fontaine Le Pin, France

Troops, Equipment

 

WWII-Medal

Previous Mission # 92            Mission List            Next Mission # 94

Return to Table of Contents



Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 115-413
OpRep #            : 98
Nature of Mission  : Bombing
Mission Status     : Attacked
Bombing Altitude   : 12,000 feet
Take-off Time      : 2003
Time Over Target   : 2212
Landing Time       : 2356
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 3:53
 

Place of Take-Off  : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England
A/C Dispatched     : 39 Total -- 34 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's
Modified British System Reference: U-066447
Illustration       : 4801W LAVAL SHEET K 20
Illustration Ref   : U-066447
Summary of Results : Unknown due to lateness of mission. Primary not attacked, instead attacked R/R Highway Bridge 1 3/4 miles S/W of Saint Pierre Sur Dives, Three ships dropped Window.

Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.97221,-0.30502 (48° 58' 20" N, 0° 18' 18" W)
(Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vU066447)
(See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)


Scanned original Mission 93 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder       Reports Folder       OpRep # 98       Fuel Use

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.




Loading List 1

Loading List 1, Box I


Loading List 2

Loading List 2, Box II


Route Map

Route Map


Target Topo Map

Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (LZ1) vU066447
Extracted from GSGS-4250/AMS-M762 Sheet 7F-3 - "Aunay-Sur-Odon" 1:50:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from McMaster University Digital Archive - WWII Topographic Maps,
France 1:50k Topographic Maps,
Aunay-Sur-Odon sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)

(Annotated Full Map PDF)



Mission Loading Lists Transcription

Mission # 93 -- July 7, 1944, Friday PM
Fontaine Le Pin, France -- Troops, Equipment

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

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  668th                   
  43-21719  5H-V  A-20J
  Capt Prentiss, R.B.
  Lt McBrien, R.T.
  S/Sgt McCreery, J.E.
  S/Sgt Sylva, H.J.
  3  671st                   
  43-10165  5C-H  A-20G
  Lt Zubon, M.
  T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L.
  S/Sgt Russell, W.C.
 
  4  671st                   
  43-9714  5C-N  A-20G
  Lt Platter, E.T.
  S/Sgt Johnson, K.L.
  S/Sgt Czech, J.L.
 
  5  671st                   
  43-9363  5C-L  A-20G
  Lt York, R.W.
  S/Sgt Wilds, H.J.
  S/Sgt Ashton, L.A.
 
  6  671st                   
  43-9951  5C-P  A-20G
  Lt Ames, W.H.
  Sgt Fessler, H.S.
  Sgt Brown, R.J.
 

Box I -- Flight II
  1  670th                   
  43-10211  F6-O  A-20G
  Lt Greene, W.J.
  S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A.
  S/Sgt Colbert, W.F.
 
  2  670th                   
  43-9200  F6-A  A-20G
  Lt Shea, D.F.
  S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr.
  S/Sgt McCleary, H.M.
 
  3  670th                   
  43-9680  F6-R  A-20G
  Lt Hillerman, J.P.
  S/Sgt Miller, R.L.
  Sgt Cummings, W.D.
 
  4  670th                   
  43-9750  F6-M  A-20G
  Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr.
  S/Sgt Kidd, W.L.
  S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W.
 
  5  670th                   
  43-9978  F6-S  A-20G
  Lt Sommers, D.T.
  Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R.
  Sgt Johnson, J.L.
 
  6  670th                   
  43-21759  F6-G  A-20G
  Lt Brown, N.G.
  S/Sgt White, H.E.
  S/Sgt Addleman, R.F.
 

Box I -- Flight III
  1  669th                   
  43-9900  2A-Q  A-20G
  Lt Peck, W.A.
  S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E.
  S/Sgt Kelton, H.E.
 
  2  669th                   
  43-9717  2A-N  A-20G
  Lt Clark, H.B.
  S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W.
  S/Sgt Floyd, C.F.
 
  3  669th                   
  43-9840  2A-V  A-20G
  Lt Robertson, R.B.
  Sgt Hay, J.E.
  Sgt Buskirk, J.A.
 
  4  669th                   
  43-9961  2A-E  A-20G
  Lt Siggs, W.C.
  S/Sgt Nicks, R.W.
  S/Sgt Radlich, N.
 
  5  669th                   
  43-10147  2A-K  A-20G
  Lt Elliott, D.W.
  Sgt McGuire, J.J.
  Sgt Mani, J.
 
  6  669th                   
  43-9929  2A-C  A-20G
  Lt Blomgren, J.E.
  Sgt Bookach, M.
  Sgt Fleming, L.R.
 

Box I
  SPARE  671st               
  43-9937  5C-B  A-20G
  Lt Miller, J.H.
  S/Sgt Schrom, R.G.
  S/Sgt Galender, J.W.
  [No Sortie Returned as Briefed]
 
                                                           


Box II -- Flight I
  1  670th                   
  43-21467  F6-W  A-20J
  Lt Rudisill, R.S.
  Lt Joost, R.H.
  S/Sgt Riley, R.K.
  S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J.
  2  669th                   
  43-10135  2A-T  A-20J
  Capt Huff, M.J.
  Lt Kupits, J.
  Sgt Clark, R.A.
  Sgt Basford, F.P.
  3  670th                   
  43-9209  F6-K  A-20G
  Lt Hall, R.B.
  Sgt Blackford, D.S.
  Sgt Burger, L.C.
 
  4  670th                   
  43-9387  F6-H  A-20G
  Lt Johnson, E.L.
  S/Sgt Donahue, W.J.
  Sgt Cianciosi, A.A.
 
  5  670th                   
  43-9224  F6-E  A-20G
  Lt Grunig, D.B.
  Sgt Dias, M.E.
  Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr.
 
  6  670th                   
  43-9689  F6-I  A-20G
  Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O.
  S/Sgt Gossett, J.D.
  Sgt Cochran, R.L.
 

Box II -- Flight II
  1  668th                   
  43-9907  5H-O  A-20G
  Lt Ebenstein, G.N.
  S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.
  T/Sgt Robbins, L.G.
 
  2  669th                   
  43-9943  2A-F  A-20G
  Lt Clausen, T.
  Sgt Fetko, C., Jr.
  Sgt Brown, D.M.
 
  3  668th                   
  43-21819  5H-K  A-20G
  Lt Kreh, E.B.
  S/Sgt Shelton, E.L.
  S/Sgt Schenck, D.R.
 
  4  669th                   
  43-9390  2A-G  A-20G
  Lt Cruze, R.K.
  S/Sgt Love, C.F.
  S/Sgt Adair, F.L.
 
  5  668th                   
  43-10176  5H-T  A-20G
  Lt Welsh, A.J.
  Sgt Wright, R.E.
  Sgt Novak, S.G.
 
  6  668th                   
  43-21764  5H-X  A-20G
  Lt Harris, F.W.
  S/Sgt Hantske, D.
  Sgt Newell, S.P.
 

Box II -- Flight III
  1  668th                   
  43-10210  5H-Q  A-20G
  Lt Miracle, R.V.
  S/Sgt Burch, R.W.
  S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr.
 
  2  668th                   
  43-9745  5H-I  A-20G
  Lt Mish, C.C.
  S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr.
  S/Sgt Chustz, R.F.
 
  3  668th                   
  43-10226  5H-E  A-20G
  Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr.
  S/Sgt Fild, P.G.
  S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H.
 
  4  668th                   
  43-9379  5H-G  A-20G
  Lt Downing, W.E.
  S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S.
  S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr.
 
  5  668th                   
  43-9935  5H-F  A-20G
  Lt Colquitt, J.K.
  Sgt Giesy, S.H., Jr.
  Sgt Cherry, F.E.
 
  6  671st                   
  43-9221  5C-F  A-20G
  Lt Herman, A.E.
  S/Sgt DeBower, D.H.
  S/Sgt Jones, R.J.
 


Box III
  1  669th                   
  43-9450  2A-S  A-20J
  Lt Sommers, H.L.
  Lt McQuade, R.J.
  Sgt Melchoir, F.E.
  Sgt Holloway, R.G.
  2  669th                   
  43-9743  2A-W  A-20G
  Lt Behlmer, R.L.
  T/Sgt Kelly, W.J.
  S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G.
 
  3  671st                   
  43-9711  5C-M  A-20G
  Lt Perkins, R.D.
  S/Sgt Sherry, V.N.
  S/Sgt Linneman, R.H.
 



Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 93 -- July 7, 1944, Friday PM
Fontaine Le Pin, France -- Troops, Equipment


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

On the following day in a late evening mission, 39 aircraft took off to attack troops and equipment in a forest at Fontainele-pin. Finding it obscured by clouds, they made no attack. Sixteen aircraft chose as a target of opportunity a bridge southwest of St Pierre Sur Dives. There was no photo coverage because of the haze and darkness. The last plane landed at 2356 hours. Major Willetts, Lt Royalty, B-N, and Captain Rudisill, Lt Joost, B-N, led the two boxes.


"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 107

Mission #93 - 7 July - St. Pierre-Sur Dives Bridge. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led Box I with Captain Rudisill and Lt. Joost, BN leading Box II. (Rudisill was made Captain a few days ago). Congratulations to a swell guy! Captain Prentiss and Lt. McBrien, BN flew deputy to Box I leader and Captain Huff and Lt. Kupits, BN flew deputy to Box II leader. Lt. Sommers and McQuade led a flight. Take off was at 2000, by the time the formation got to the target, a combination of darkness, and haze guarded the target. Bombs went away, but results could not be determined, since the developed photos taken after the bomb drop could not be distinguished. The planes all made it back okay, and landed about midnight, again, the four hour mission really taxed the gas supply of the planes.


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

Lt Leonard received notification of his promotion to 1st Lt on July 7th. On this date the squadron had 11 crews on a mission dispatched to attack St Pierre Sur Dives.


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

July 7th - 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.




[July 7, 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 7, 1944
World War II Military Situation Maps Collection
Library of Congress


Previous Mission # 92            Mission List            Next Mission # 94

Return to Table of Contents