 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 120 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday PM Chauny, France Railroad Bridge
|
 |
Previous Mission # 119 Mission List Next Mission # 121 Return to Table of Contents
|
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 120 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday PM Chauny, France Railroad Bridge
|
|
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: 4903E/B/74 Illustration : 4903E/36 Illustration Ref : 060049 Secondary Target : Daours. Casual Target: Don (4902E/B/11 and 5002E/B/33) Summary of Results : Box 2 attacked Chauny RR Brigde - one flight scored Excellent, one Fair, one Poor. Box 1 - PNB. Two flights bombed Casual target( highway bridge south of town of Appilly), One flight bombed M/Y at Arras. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.61108,3.23074 (49° 36' 40" N, 3° 13' 51" 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 # 120 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday PM
Chauny, 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. [Returned Early Engine Trouble] |
2 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
3 670th 43-22058 F6-C A-20J Lt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
| 4 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
5 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
6 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. Sgt Hinson, A.H. [Returned Early Engine Trouble] |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
2 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
3 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Roberts, J.H. S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
5 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
6 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Wheeler, R.V. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
6 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| SPARE 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
| 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 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Dias, M.E. S/Sgt Kemper, L.B. [Kemper (4th CCU)] |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Martinez, L. Sgt Paules, E.F. |
5 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. Sgt Shaw, C.L. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
6 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Wilson, B.R. Sgt Hall, M. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Clark, R.A. Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 43-10159 2A-G A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. |
3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
| 4 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
5 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
6 669th 43-21767 2A-N A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. Sgt Burland, A.J. Sgt Heath, K. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt McGuire, J.J. Sgt Mani, J. |
| 4 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
5 669th 43-9368 2A-K A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
6 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Pvt Perkins, H.W. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 120 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday PM
Chauny, France -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon Major Meng and Captain Rudisill took off leading two boxes of planes to attack the Chauny railroad bridge. Major Meng was forced to return early because of mechanical difficulties. Lt. Meagher, Lt. Burg, B-N, took over the lead of the first box. Due to mistaken identity, the first box hit a bridge at Appily, southwest of the target. The second box, however, destroyed half of the Chauny bridge making it unserviceable.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 129 - 130
Mission #120 - 9 August - PM - Chauny Railroad Bridge.
Captain Prentiss and Lt. McBrien, BN, Lts. Wheeler and
Arrington, BN, Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, Lt. Meagher,
and Lt. Burg, all led flights. The first box leader, not identified,
evidently missed identifying the primary target and went on to
the secondary target, a highway bridge at Apilly. The scoring
was not scored. No flak or fighters came near the formation, all
returned safely.
Second Lieutenant James R. Nichols joined the squadron
as a bombardier-navigator, starting to fly with Lt. William
Greene as a new team.
On 10 August, Major Meng moved up to Deputy Group
Commander, with Major Lloyd F. Dunn assuming command of
the 670th.
Captain Clark of the 669th left the squadron to become
Assistant Group Operations Officer. He had been Squadron
Operations Officer, which title passed on to Captain Sommers.
Lt. Behlmer was named Assistant Operations Officer.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
As a result, our target on the morning of the 9th was the same radar installation. Capt. Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N, led a flight with good results. Some bombs were believed to have fallen directly on the desired MPI. Lt. Hiram Clark was forced to land at Ridgewell when one engine, hit by flak, failed on the return trip.
Leading the second and third flights of the second box that afternoon, Capt. Huff and Capt. Hulse helped blast the Chauny railroad bridge, making it unserviceable.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Bois de Pierre Chateau Radar installations were again attacked on two separate missions on August 9th. A total of fifteen crews from this squadron took part in the day's attacks. Lt Harry Popeney and F/O Elizabeth O. Turner joined the organization this date bringing the squadron total to 31 pilots. The Stars and Stripes of this date carried an article about the experiences on a mission of one of our crews, Lt Brown and S/Sgts White and Addleman.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 9th, 1944
The 416th kept up their fast pace with two more missions on August 9th . In the morning the formation went back to hit the radar installation at Prieure du Gast, which they attacked the evening previous with fair results. More bombs were dropped in the target area, but no extensive damage to the install¡ations appeared, although approximately fifty craters are visible with the cleared area. Flak was experienced, causing damage to eight Group ships.
In the evening the target was a railroad bridge at Chauny over the Canal de St. Quentin, 20 miles northeast of Compiegne. The second box hit the bridge with good results, but the first box went on its own. The first flight, through misidentification of the target, attacked a highway bridge at Apilly, 5 miles southwest of the primary. Bombs fell across canal 9 of the town, with a near miss to canal bridge. The second flight dropped their bombs on edge of the Marshalling Yards at Arras, 50 miles northwest of the primary. This was mistaken for the secondary. The third flight followed the first flight over Apilly and results were the same. Flak was sparse and all the ships returned without damage.
|
[August 9, 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 9, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |