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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 114 -- August 5, 1944, Saturday PM L'Aigle, France Railroad Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 114 -- August 5, 1944, Saturday PM L'Aigle, France Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 30 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Ref : LAIGLE (RAILROAD BRIDGE) Illustration : 4800/8 Illustration Ref : 035018 Secondary Target : St. Martin De Bienfaite Railroad Bridge Summary of Results : Bombing results by flight ranged from Unknown to Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.77097,0.64361 (48° 46' 16" N, 0° 38' 37" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo) (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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 1944 Saturday |
No_Report | 43-9220 A-20G |
114 | 671 | Normandy | Perkins, Ronald D. (Not Injured)
Sherry, Vincent N. (Not Injured) Linneman, Robert H. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 114 -- August 5, 1944, Saturday PM
L'Aigle, France -- Railroad Bridge
| 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 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. |
3 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
| 4 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Paules, E.F. Sgt Martinez, L. |
5 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. Sgt Shaw, C.L. |
6 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
2 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
3 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
| 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 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
6 668th 43-21770 5H-I A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
| 1 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. |
2 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Welsh, A.J. Sgt Wright, R.E. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
| 4 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. [No Sortie Returned Early. Bombs fell out over Channel. Pilot Returned thinking all bombs had fallen out] |
5 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Hall, M. Sgt Wilson, B.R. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Maj Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. [No Sortie Returned Early. Low Fuel Pressure] |
| 4 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Zeikus, A.J. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. |
5 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Ashton, L.A. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. |
6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt DeMand, F.W. Lt Hanlon, R.J. S/Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
| 4 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
5 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
| 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 Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
| 4 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
5 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Hay, J.E. Sgt Buskirk, J.A. |
6 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt Mani, J. Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 114 -- August 5, 1944, Saturday PM
L'Aigle, France -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon, Major Meng, Lt Powell, B-N, and Major Dunn, Lt Arrington, B-N, led the two boxes in an attack on the Laigle railroad bridge. The western approach to the bridge was damaged by several near misses. Several hits along the embankment severed the eastern approach to the bridge, making the line unserviceable. Lt Perkins' plane was hit by flak southeast of Caen and had one ?????? shot out. When he tried to crash-land on the Normandy beach head, he couldn't get the wheels down. He made a perfect belly landing, however, and none of his crew were injured.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 122
Mission #114 - 5 August - PM - Laigle Railroad Bridge. Within three hours of the planes returning from the first mission, the Crew Chiefs and their line mechanics, plus armament, had the ships reloaded and serviced, ready to go. And that they did for this important assignment. Flights were led by Major Dunn and Lt. Arrington, BN - Lts. DeMand and Hanlon, BN - Lts. Meagher and Burg, BN, plus Captain Prentiss and Lt. McBrien, BN. The bombing was in flights of six and excellent results were recorded. Lt. DeMand had to make a second run on the target when his flight was squeezed out of the formation on the first run. After dropping, the flights moved away from the formation and flew over a heavily defended area, resulting in all planes suffering damage. Lt. R. D. Perkins with gunners S/Sgts. Sherry and Linneman had their right engine knocked out and his wing gas tank ruptured, losing enough gas requiring him to make an emergency landing on the Normandy beachhead, completely destroying the ship.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Capt. Huff, Lt. Kupits, B-N, led one of the most successful missions of the month in the morning of the 5th. The target was the Compiegne/Marigny marshalling yard. Thru traffic was impossible when direct hits chewed up the lines from one end of the yards to the other. Major Napier again led a flight.
That afternoon, Capt Morton led a flight in an attack on the Laigle railroad bridge. The bridge and its approaches were hit, making it unserviceable.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The squadron suffered a loss of personnel, through transfers, on
August 5th, when Captains Hulse, Moore, Lts Conte and Greene were
distributed among the other squadrons of the group. With the shuffle
of personnel the 670th gained the services of Capt Hiram F. Conant,
Operations Officer; F/O Jay R. Warren and Lt Warren Musgrove, pilots.
On this date F/O Byrne received notice of his commission as a 2nd Lt.
Two missions were flown on the 5th. The first, in which we had
nine crews participating, was an attack on the Compiagne-Marigny
marshalling yards. Excellent results were achieved, bomb bursts
completely severing the lines, and making through traffic impossible.
Excellent results were also achieved on the second mission of the day
against the Laigle Railroad Bridge. The squadron had six crews on this
mission.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 5th, 1944
When anyone speaks of a hot outfit, there will be no mistaking it...they mean the 416th Bomb Group...and of course the 671st Bomb Squadron which has always done its share on the Group's record.
On August 5th the Havocs crossed the Channel once in the morning and again in the evening and hung up one of the best bombing records in the Ninth Bomber Command. Bombing by flight in both instances, seven excellents, two goods, a fair, a gross and a no cover were annexed.
The morning target was the marshalling yards at Compiegne. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty led the 671th crews over the target and planted their bombs in the target area, hitting railroad tracks and wagons loaded with military supplies. Three other flights got excellent and the two remaining ones û good. Flak was nil and all the crews returned in tact.
Major Lloyd F. Dunn and Lt.Arrington flew their last mission together as members of the 671st on the evening of the August 5th . Major Dunn has been transferred to Group Operations as Assistant Operations Officer and so relieved of his duties a Operations Officer of this Squadron. He has kept Operations on the ball all during his stay and is directly responsible for the good showing the 671st has put up. Thus it was only right that he and his teammate, Lt. Arrington, should wind up their partnership with a choice bit of bombing.
The target was a railroad bridge and embankment at Laigle, and Major Dunn's flight did a real job on knocking it out. Hits were made on the tracks and also the bridge. Lt. DeMand and Lt. Hanlon were forced to make a second run on the target when they were squeezed out on their first run. Photographs weren't taken, but crews reported fair to good results.
There was no flak on or just after the bomb run, but Lt. DeMand's flight was to experience quite a hit before it reached friendly territory. The flight got off course after the bomb run and flew over on of the hottest spots in France. Flak came up in every shape, size and form, hitting all six ships. Lt. Perkins in #220 received the brunt of it. His right engine was conked out and a piece of flak had punctured one of his wing tanks. Unable to make it back to England, he made a forced landing in Normandy, completely washing out the ship. He and his crew, S/Sgt. Sherry and S/Sgt. Linneman were unhurt, and will be returning soon in a Transport plane.
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[August 5, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, August 5, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |