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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 102 -- July 19, 1944, Wednesday PM Bruz, France Fuel Dump
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 102 -- July 19, 1944, Wednesday PM Bruz, France Fuel Dump
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4802W/H/1 and 2 Illustration : 4802W/50 2ND EDITION Illustration Ref : 070033, 045030 - 3 Flights Each Secondary Target : Casual Targets along Rail Road from 48 Deg. 13 Min. North 01 Deg. 38 Min. West to 48 Deg. 33 Min. North 01 Deg. 45 Min. West Summary of Results : Bombing results by flight ranged from Poor to Excellent. One flight P.N.B - bombed Target of Opportunity Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.02544,-1.74753 (48° 1' 32" N, 1° 44' 51" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Selected Town center - Bruz, France) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1944 Wednesday |
MACR 15777 |
|
43-9689 A-20G |
102 | 670 | Strip A-14 | Byrne, Robert T. Jr. Cochran, Ralph L. (KIA) Cummings, William D. |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 102 -- July 19, 1944, Wednesday PM
Bruz, France -- Fuel Dump
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. |
2 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
3 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. Sgt Dias, M.E. |
| 4 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G F/O Byrne, R.T., Jr. Sgt Cummings, W.D. Sgt Cochran, R.L. |
6 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. S/Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Beck, J.T. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
| 4 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. Sgt Connery, T.F. Sgt Barry, R.M. |
6 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Prentiss, R.B. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. |
2 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. |
3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
6 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Welsh, A.J. Sgt Wright, R.E. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. [No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 43-22058 F6-C A-20J Lt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Martinez, L. Sgt Paules, E.F. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
5 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Wilson, B.R. Sgt Hall, M. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, C.L. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Lt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
2 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. S/Sgt Young, C.E. |
3 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
| 4 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
5 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Hay, J.E. Sgt Buskirk, J.A. |
6 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt Mani, J. Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
2 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
| 4 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
6 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. [No Sortie] |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 102 -- July 19, 1944, Wednesday PM
Bruz, France -- Fuel Dump
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the following day, the 19th, 39 aircraft were dispatched to attack the Bruz Fuel Dump south of Rennes. Good to excellent results were achieved with hits on the fuel dump, roads, and buildings. Major Meng and Captain Rudisill led the mission that encountered considerable flak. Fourteen aircraft received battle damage from flak. Flight Officer R.T. Byrne was forced down on the beach-head. One of his gunners, Sergeant Ralph L. Cochran was killed by flak. He was buried in the Monarch Cemetery at Blosville, France.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 112 - 113
Mission #102 - 19 July - Bruz Fuel Depot. Lts. Marzolf and Beck, BN, and Lts. Cole and Basnett, BN led flights from the 671st squadron. Prior to take-off, Captain Prentiss of the 668th was preflighting his plane when his radio set and Gee bombing equipment caught fire. The crew scrambled around and climbed into another plane and took off with the mission. Clouds and shadows covered the target so no bombs were dropped by some flights. Some did get their bombs away. After bombs away, F/O Byrne's plane was severely damaged by flak. His turret gunner, Sgt. Cummings saw his partner in the tunnel position, Sgt. Cochran, motionless. Cummings left his post and found Cochran could not be helped. He notified F/O Byrne who left the formation and landed on a fighter strip in Normandy. Sgt. Cochran was buried in Blosville, France.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Tragedy struck again on July 19th when 12 of our crews participated in an attack on the Bruz fuel dumps. Just after the bomb load was dropped, F/O Byrne's ship was severely hit by flak. His gunner, Sgt Cummings, noticed that his crew mate, Sgt Cochran, was motionless in the tunnel of the plane and tried to contact the pilot and inform him, but did not succeed. Clambering down form the turret, he tried to assist Sgt Cochran by cutting off the flak suit and clothes, but the gunner was beyond all assistance. Pilot Byrne finally got through on the interphone and learned the situation. He left the formation to land at a fighter strip in Normandy. The next morning Sgt Cochran was buried at Blosville, France, and after four days spent in a French chateau while the ship was being repaired, F/O Byrne and Sgt Cummings returned to their home base. During their stay in France the two men were taken near the front lines and witnessed German prisoners and a large amount of destroyed Nazi equipment.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
July 18th ű July 25th, 1944
The weather (enough said) curtailed the 416th Bomb Group's activity again during this period, but seven missions were chalked up. Mission No. 100 came off on the morning of July 18th , and in the afternoon the Group passed the century mark. Single missions were run off on the 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 25th and 26th of July. Bombs were dropped on all these flights except the latter on in which a cloud covering over the target interfered. All of these missions were in direct support of allied ground forces in Normandy.
No ships were lost, but flak was met in many instances. A gunner from one on the other Squadrons was killed by a direct flak burst in the turret. This was the first time a member of a crew was brought back to base dead. Lt. Murray had the honor of being the first member of the Squadron to land on the Normandy beachhead when his plane ran short of gas on a late mission on July 19th. Lt. Murray and his gunners, S/Sgt. Jones and DeBower, landed on a P-47 field on the Peninsula and were treated in good fashion. They returned the next day with a few souvenirs... helmets, rifles, etc. They all related to quite and experience.
This Squadron fell behind the others this month in individual sorties mainly because when the 671st had a large number on the loading list, pathˇfinders were used and a number of the crews would be scrubbed.
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[July 19, 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 19, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |