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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 105 -- July 25, 1944, Tuesday AM Saint Gilles, France Area Bombing
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 105 -- July 25, 1944, Tuesday AM Saint Gilles, France Area Bombing
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 4 A-20J's Target Ref : PHOTO MAP SHEET E-22 AREA BOUNDED BY T-429624, 429616, 443616, 443624 Illustration : E-22 Illustration Ref : 434624, 437624 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Area bombing - Excellent pattern in target area. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.10803,-1.17865 (49° 6' 29" N, 1° 10' 43" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vT434624) (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 # 105 -- July 25, 1944, Tuesday AM
Saint Gilles, France -- Area Bombing
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Col Farmer, W.W. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Kemper, L.B. [Kemper (4th CCU)] |
| 4 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
5 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
6 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, C.L. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
| 1 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
2 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. |
| 4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
5 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. Sgt Connery, T.F. Sgt Barry, R.M. |
| 1 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
3 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| 4 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
6 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Poundstone, L.E. Sgt Burland, A.J. Sgt Heath, K. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. [Returned Early No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt DeMand, F.W. Lt Hanlon, R.J. S/Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
5 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Wilson, B.R. Sgt Hall, M. |
| 1 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Parchman, C.B. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
2 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
3 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. Capt Bailey, R.G. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Love, C.F. Lt Mazanec, F. |
5 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
6 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
| 1 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.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 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
| 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 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
6 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. Pvt Moskowitz, L. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 105 -- July 25, 1944, Tuesday AM
Saint Gilles, France -- Area Bombing
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
A ground support mission had been planned for four days, but bad weather had caused its postponment. Finally on the 25th, visibility improved enough so that it could be executed. The target was in the St Gilles area, west of St Lo. An excellent pattern of bombs was dropped in the target area, which for a radius of 2,000 yards devastated the area with innumerable craters. Major Meng and Captain Rudisill led the two boxes. It helped to clear the way for the break-through by the American forces intent on encircling the Germans.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 113 - 114
Mission #105 - 25 July - St. Giles France. Major Meng and Lt.
Powell BN led this mission with Captain McNulty and Lt.
Burseil, BN flying as deputy. The second Box was led by
Captain Rudisill and Lt. Joost, BN and Lts. DeMand and Hanlon,
BN as deputy. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led a flight.
Precision bombing was not what this mission was all about. It
was termed as area bombing, with bombs plastering an area supporting
our ground troops. The results of the bombing was
reported in percentages of bombs hitting the assigned area. The
first box received 75% effectiveness with the second box receiving
a 90% rating. Little flak was seen. All ships returned with no
damage.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Major Meng led a formation of 36 aircraft, in which we had 9 crews, on July 25th to attack the St Gilles area. On this date Lt Hall was promoted to 1st Lt.
"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 25, 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 25, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |