Cambrai/Niergnies

Group and Unit Histories

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

July, 1945

While in Cambrai, about four days before the scheduled departure of the Air Echelon, a hail storm caused considerable damage to our planes. This, together with the shortage of belly tanks, needed for the long over-water trip across the Southern Atlantic, slowed the departure from Cambrai. Although there was some trouble with the planes mechanically, there was only one fatality. 1st Lt. Robert J. Hanna, who had done as outstanding job as a bombardier navigator, was scheduled to return to the States with a plane flown by a crew from the 391st Bomb Group (M). After having taken off from Marseille, the plane plunged in the Mediterranean. The crew was lost.

A pre-POM audit team inspected the records of every man in the Group from the 13th to the 15th. Also on the 15th personnel were restricted to the base pending a movement of the Group to an Assembly Area. Cholera shots were given to everyone who had not received one in the six months previous.

The USSTAF POM team arrived on the 16th. At the conclusion of their inspection, the Group was pronounced ready to continue its operations in the Pacific Theatre.

A routine inspection by the Ninth Air Force POM team was the last before the Group was ready to move. As soon as the inspection was completed, the work of loading the baggage train began.

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

July, 1945

At 1830 hours on the 12th, a formation was held at which time all personnel present were advised that movement orders had been received. Article of War 28 was read to all personnel. On the 16th, our first crews took off for Station A-74, an Air Assembly Area at Cambrai, France. These crews were placed in indefinite detached service. The first plane off the ground was piloted by First Lieutenant Leo E. Poundstone. To all of us who knew "Leo" well, it was a great moment for him, and, as he put it, "The engine will have to fall out of it in order to keep me on the ground." Throughout the next few days, more of our planes and crews left Station A-59 for the trip that would eventually take them home. Some of the overage crews were transferred into other Groups or into casual pools, but their destination was the same, Home! When the last crews took off, the only commissioned flying personnel to remain with the Ground Echelon was 2d Lt. Jessie Britt and 2d Lt. Michael G. Meall. Lt Meall was a newcomer to the Squadron, having joined us during the early part of July.

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

July, 1945

All armorer gunners were transferred to either an occupational group or to a replacement center to await transportation to the States. The Ground Crews were destined to go to the CBI direct, but all planes were to be ferried by way of the U.S.A. On the 16th and 17th of July five 671 st pilots with two engineer gunners flew excess aircraft to the ATC Assembly area at A-7 4 on the first leg of their journey home. These pilots were Lts. Hlivko, Dantzer, Spires, Price and Simpson. Lt. Graeber proceeded these by a few days.
...
The following pilots left the Squadron on July 19th for the ATC base at A-74; Lt. Col. Dunn, Major Nielsen, Lt. Cocke, Capt. Brown~ Capt. Buskirk, Capt. Olson, Capt. Tutt, Lt. Edstrom, Lt. Malery, Lt. Mooney, Lt. Wright. The remaining pilots, Lt. Milhorn, Capt. Sears, Lt. Comeaux and F / 0 Acrey departed on the 20th and 21st of July. Five Bombardier/Navigators went on the flight echalon ... Lt. Brewer, Lt. Kerns, Lt. Corum, Lt. Orr, and F /0 Brandt. Lt. Reed also made the flight echelon, leaving on the 21st with Capt. Sears. Four bombardiers were transferred to the 391 st Bomb Group on July 19th. They were Lt. Hanna, F/O Przywitowski;F/O Langsam, F/O Lehneis. This left on bombardier, Lt. Seymour, the last to join the Squadron, with the outfit.