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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 118 -- August 8, 1944, Tuesday PM Chateau in Bois Du Pierre, France Radar Installation
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 118 -- August 8, 1944, Tuesday PM Chateau in Bois Du Pierre, France Radar Installation
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 29 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4250/7G/4 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Bombing results by flight ranged from Gross to Excellent. One flight leader released prematurely - release relay making premature contact due to vibration and wires in pilots bomb panel resting against points. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.55867,0.03426 (48° 33' 31" N, 0° 2' 3" 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) |
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 118 -- August 8, 1944, Tuesday PM
Chateau in Bois Du Pierre, France -- Radar Installation
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
2 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Fild, P.G. Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
| 4 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. |
5 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
6 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Lowe, R.R. Pvt Perkins, H.W. |
2 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
3 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| 4 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
5 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
6 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Clark, R.A. Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| 4 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
5 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Burland, A.J. Sgt Heath, K. |
6 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt McGuire, J.J. Sgt Mani, J. |
| SPARE 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Clausen, T. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
2 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Hinson, A.H. |
3 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
5 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Byrne, R.T., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. [Returned Early No Sortie Pilot Ill] |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Lt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-22058 F6-C A-20J Lt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. |
3 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Dias, M.E. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. |
| 4 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Paules, E.F. Sgt Martinez, L. |
5 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Lt Wheeler, R.V. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
3 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
| 4 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
5 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
6 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Zubon, M. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 118 -- August 8, 1944, Tuesday PM
Chateau in Bois Du Pierre, France -- Radar Installation
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon the radar installations in the Bois du Pierre were the targets. Again the results ranged from good to excellent, the bombs hitting around the chateau probably destroying or damaging it. Just one of those things happened though, and, although it had looked like our bombs had hit their mark, photo reconnaissance showed no evidence of damage to the installations.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 128 - 129
Mission #118 - 8 August - PM - Bois De Pierre Chateau
Radar. Leading the first box was Major Price and Lt. Hand, BN,
Captain Prentiss and Lt. McBrien, BN, Lts. Wheeler and
Arrington, BN led flights. Bombing was rated as excellent with
a blanketting of the Chateau. Some flak was experienced, but
with little damage. The formation was attacked by ME-109s, but
our P-38s intercepted them with success. One gunner said he saw
a new German Jet fighter shoot down a P-38. An ME-109 dove
toward a P-38 and knocked one engine off its mount. The P-38
pilot straightened out, and asked for a bearing home and headed
there. The other P-38s took after the ME-109 and shot it up, with
the pilot bailing out, but his chute was not seen to have opened.
Two new bombardiers joined the 670th squadron, Lts.
Dale G. Ackerson and William E. Brewer.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 8th, Major Clark, Lt. Jones, B-N, led a formation in an attack on the Frevent marshalling yards. The results were excellent; the lines being made unserviceable. Flak was intense and accurate for that first flight. The two planes mentioned earlier were shot down, both from our Squadron.
That afternoon the radar installations in the Bois du Pierre were the targets. Again the results ranged from good to excellent, the bombs hitting around the chateau probably destroying or damaging it. Major Napier, Lt. Madenfort, B-N, and Capt. Huff, Lt. Kupits, B-N, led the second and third flights of the first box. Just one of those things happened, though, and although it looked like our bombs hit their mark, photo reconnaissance showed no evident damage to the installations.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On August 8th two missions were again flown. In the morning an attack on the Freven rail road junction suceeded in cutting all through lanes to a nearby marshalling yards. We had six crews participating. Radar installations in the Bois du Pierre Chateau were the target of the afternoon mission on which the squadron had ten crews. On this latter mission, Lt Leonard reported seeing one of the new enemy jet propelled planes knock a P-38 out of the sky. The squadron was augmented on this date by the addition of two bombardiers, Lts Dale G. Ackerson and William E. Brewer.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 8th, 1944
This turned out to be another double-header in the way of missions for the Group. In the late morning two boxes went in to hit R/R embankments and marshalling yard at Frevent, where this Group had lots of previous experience. The target was as hot as it ever was, and flak knocked down two ships from the 669th Bomb Squadron. In this same area Lt. Stockwell and Lt. Jedinak went down, and also Lt.Schouten. In fact, it was just about the same spot.
However, this did not hinder the bombing any, fair to excellent results being reported. All through lines in the gathering roads have been cut. Of the widespread pattern of strikes covering town and rail areas, a concentration of at least 14 has destroyed half of the large repair shop and several smaller installations, and demolished or damaged at least 17 wagons in the center of the gathering roads. Two direct hits were seen on lines West of the bridge at the West end of the roads.
The evening mission brought less flak to the formation for a change, but it also brought a new type of hazard û that of enemy fighters; the first that this group has actually and definitely encountered. Three to four ME 109 fighter came out of a top cloud cover to attack the formation. However, they must have misjudged our position, for the escort of P-38's got to them first. One ME 109 took a diving pass at a Lightening and knock out one of the engines. However, it recovered and called for D/F to base, and headed for home. The other P-38's finished off the Jerry as his plane blew up and the pilot was last seen hurtling earthward with the chute still unopened. That was the climax of the mission. All the planes returned to base safely and as far as hitting the target are concerned one flight got excellent and two flights good. The target was a German radar control station in the Argentan-Alcenon sector of Normandy, and extensive damage was believed to have been done.
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[August 8, 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 8, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |