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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 141 -- September 11, 1944, Monday AM Metz, France Communications Headquarters
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 141 -- September 11, 1944, Monday AM Metz, France Communications Headquarters
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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 Modified British System Reference: U-889612 Summary of Results : One flight scored Fair, two Good, one Excellent and one did not attack - Unable to pick up target on first run because of haze and on second run because of smoke from previous bombings. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.14077,6.21326 (49° 8' 27" N, 6° 12' 48" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) vU889612) (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 # 141 -- September 11, 1944, Monday AM
Metz, France -- Communications Headquarters
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Miller, E.L. Cpl Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. [Not Airborne Nose Wheel Shimmy] |
3 669th 43-21821 2A-Z A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. |
| 4 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Fleming, L.R. S/Sgt Bookach, M. |
5 669th 43-9692 2A-M 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 Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. Cpl Moskowitz, L. [Landed at Manston Starboard Engine Out] |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt 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 Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
3 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| 4 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
5 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Miguez, J.H. Cpl DiOrio, F.M. |
6 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Cpl Steffey, R.I. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt DeMand, F.W. Lt Burns, A.C., Jr. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. Sgt Davis, H.R. |
2 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
3 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
5 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Gary, J.C. Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. Sgt Schoen, A.E., Jr. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Popeney, H.V. Sgt Arnett, W.E. Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Jones, C.W. Pvt Perkins, H.W. S/Sgt Hodgson, A.T. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. Cpl West, N.D. Cpl Tranchina, C.E. |
3 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
| 4 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
5 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Carstens, R.W. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
6 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Capt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. |
2 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
3 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
| 4 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
5 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Sgt Euga, P.G. Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
6 668th 43-21760 5H-Z A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Sittarich, J.J. Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
2 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. Cpl Friday, L.R. Cpl Collier, J.L. |
3 670th 43-21810 F6-P A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Merritt, T.S. Cpl Basile, A.C. S/Sgt Gatti, R.J. |
6 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Musgrove, W. Sgt Seighman, H.O. Sgt Licker, M. |
| SPARE 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 141 -- September 11, 1944, Monday AM
Metz, France -- Communications Headquarters
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The following day, weather permitted another mission. The target was a communications headquarters at Metz. It was thought to be the center of communications and control for the entire sector of that front. The bombs were well aimed and landed on the M.P.I., causing severe damage to the fortifications and installations. Captain Hulse and Major Napier led the two boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 144
Mission #141 - 11 September - St. Julian les Metz. This mission was pretty close to the Border of Germany, a communication center for the full sector of the battle front for the Germans. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led Box I with Major Napier and Lt. Jones, leading Box II. Captain Osborne and Lt. Forma, BN, - Captain Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, BN, and Lts. DeMand and Burns, BN, led flights. Some light, accurate flak came up near the target, but not much damage was inflicted on our planes. Bombing scored two excellents, two "good" one fair, and one flight did not bomb due to haze over the target. Eight ships sustained flak hits, but all returned to base with no personal injuries.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
A communications center at Metz which was probably the control center for that whole sector of the front was attacked on the 11th. Capt. Hulse and Major Napier led the boxes. Results ranged from good to excellent.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Again on September 10th [11th], eleven crews were part of an
attack against a German Headquarters at Metz, which city at the time
was proving a thorn in the side of General Patton and his advance on
Germany. Also on this date, Flight Officer Turner became the third one
of such rank to receive his commission as a Second Lieutenant.
The Metz communication headquarters was the target of an attack on
September 11th, in which we had seven crews.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
September 11th, 1944
With the Wheeler/Arrington and De Mand/Burns combinations representing the 671st Bomb Squadron, the 416th struck at a German headquarters and communications center at St. Julian les Metz across the Moselle River, and just a short distance from the German border. This target was a center of communications for the entire section of the front. Captain Wheeler and Lt. De Mand, leading the second and third flights in the first box, layed down their bombs with precision on the fortification, and received excellent and good, respectively. The other flight leaders chipped in with an excellent, a good and a fair. One flight did not attack due to a haze over its target.
The damage caused by the Havocs should do much to slow up lateral communications and hinder operations in the sector. Other Havoc and Marauder Groups hit at gun emplacements in this area with good to excellent results.
The Wethersfield formation ran into a flak barrage in the target area, eight ships receiving battle damage, but all returned safely without injury to the crews.
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[September 11, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, September 11, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |