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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 128 -- August 17, 1944, Thursday PM Montfort Sur Risle, France Road Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 128 -- August 17, 1944, Thursday PM Montfort Sur Risle, France Road Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 34 Total -- 26 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Target Ref : MONTFORT SUR RISLE HIGHWAY BRIDGE (PATHFINDER) Illustration : MAP SHEET 8F2 Illustration Ref : 866014 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Unobservered due to cloud cover. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.29558,0.66293 (49° 17' 44" N, 0° 39' 47" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) vL866014) (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 # 128 -- August 17, 1944, Thursday PM
Montfort Sur Risle, France -- Road Bridge
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. |
2 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Lt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
3 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Lt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
| 1 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. |
2 669th 43-21767 2A-N A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. S/Sgt Mani, J. |
| 4 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
5 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
6 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Carstens, R.W. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Lt Greenley, R.E. Lt Mitchell, R.H. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
5 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. S/Sgt Barry, R.M. S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
| 4 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
5 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Musgrove, W. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
6 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G F/O Warren, J.R. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
| 1 668th 43-21719 5H-V A-20J Lt Bartmus, G.F. Lt Hardy, J.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. |
2 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
3 668th 43-21760 5H-Z A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. |
| 4 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
5 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
6 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Hale, W.L. Sgt Geyer, J.F. Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
| 1 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. Sgt Gandy, R.S. |
2 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
| 4 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
5 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
6 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt Profita, P.J. Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 128 -- August 17, 1944, Thursday PM
Montfort Sur Risle, France -- Road Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The weather began to turn against us again just when our troops seemed to have the German Seventh Army well bottled-up. On the 17th, we flew our next mission. It was necessary to bomb by PFF. There was no photo coverage and no visual observations of the results because of the cloud cover. Capt. Rudisill and Capt. McNulty led the boxes. The target was the Montfort Sur Risle bridge.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 133 - 134
Mission #128 - 17 August - Montfort Sur Risle Bridge.
Captain McNulty and Lt. Burseil, BN led Box I, Captain Morton
and Lt. Moore, BN, Lts. Greeley and Mitchell, BN, and Lts.
Bartmus and Hardy, BN led flights. B-26 PFF Pathfinder planes
led the formation in, dropping from 11,700 feet. Results were
unobserved due to the clouds. No losses, casualties, or damage
was sustained.
A combination of inclement weather - so what else is
new? - and the preparation for a move of the group, caused a
lapse in bombing missions. Training, Training, including close
order drill was ordered, individuals packing up, and squadron
officials making ready for the evacuation of Wethersfield was
paramount.
On August 22, a surprise visit by Sergeant Potter, who
was shot down with F/O Baxter on 29 June, walked into the
squadron area. His tale may have sounded fabricated, but it did
come true. Sgt. Potter had parachuted from the plane which was
flat spinning down after taking a direct hit. He did not see F/O
Baxter or Sgt. Ernstrom parachute out. While Potter was floating
down, German soldiers were shooting at him, He was captured
and made prisoner. During his first six weeks there, he became
friendly with an Australian pilot, concocting an escape plan.
They executed it and made their way in France, becoming friendly
with a French family in an area overrun by Germans. They
lived there, in civilian clothing. One morning they awoke to find
that the town they were in was liberated by American forces.
They visited the CO of the outfit, and following intense interrogation
and able to convince everybody they were legitimate
allied personnel, they were sent back to England. He had lost 15
pound in the short time he was POW and with the French people,
he looked palid, but happy to be back. He was returned to the
states.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
A successful PFF attack on the Montfornt Sur Risle bridge on the 17th found Capt. Morton flying as deputy in the lead box.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 17th, 1944
Pathfinders took the 416th out to bomb a railroad bridge at Montfort Sur Risle on the afternoon of August 17th . There was complete cloud cover and results were unobserved, although the PFF crews believed the bombs to have fallen on the target. No enemy action was met and all the crews returned.
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[August 17, 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 17, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |