416th BG Mission 22

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 22 -- April 20, 1944, Thursday PM

Yvrench Bois Carre, France

NOBALL (XI/A/39)

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Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 5-275
OpRep #            : 4-21
Nature of Mission : Bombing
Mission Status     : No Attack

Take-off Time      : 1831
Time Over Target   : No Attack
Landing Time       : 2138
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 3:07

Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England
A/C Dispatched     : 38 Total -- 34 A-20G's, 4 A-20J's
Target Operational Number: Z 3028
Illustration       : A/39/6
Illustration Ref   : 030042
Summary of Results : All 38 ships were abortive due to weather.

Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.18188,2.02290 (50° 10' 55" N, 2° 1' 22" E)
(Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo, Mission 17)
(See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)

Scanned original Mission 22 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder Reports Folder OpRep # 4-21 Fuel Use Additional Documents

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.

Loading List 1, Box I

Loading List 2, Box II

Target Illustration: XI/A/39/6, Yvrench Bois Carre
(from Mission #17)

Stars And Stripes 416th BG A-20 Havoc Article, April 20, 1944
(670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History Exhibit #15)

Because Yvrench's Bois Carre was the first to be identified by Allied Intelligence
as a V1 launch site, subseqent sites were also often called "Bois Carre sites"; although
V1 launch sites were also referred to as "Ski-sites" due to long, narrow buildings
with one end curved which "resembled giant skis laid on their sides".

Vertical photographic-reconnaissance aerials of a flying-bomb launch site
at Bois Carre, near Yvrench, Somme, France, discovered and documented by the agents of the Reseau AGIR.
Left: Site under construction (HU 92983),
photographed 3-Nov-1943 by RAF Flight Sergeant James McGinn Aitken of 541 Squadron, Sortie E/463. (Williams, 2014)
Right: 6 July 1944 after Allied air attacks (HU 92984).
The Left photograph confirmed intelligence reports that flying-bomb sites were being constructed in the Pas-de-Calais area.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS BY THE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE UNITS, 1939-1945.
copyright: IWM (HU 92983 and 92984)

Sketch done by French labourer/engineer Andre Camp working for the Germans at the site.
(from V-1 Flying Bomb)

Left: Robot ski site at Yvrench, France photographed on 9 November 1943 shows ski in process of construction.
Complete sites call for three skis, which are long low buildings of heavy concrete, used for storage.
Reason for curved end not yet known.
(Fold3.com, NARA ID: 342-FH-3A16047-53284AC)
Right: Low-level oblique photographic-reconnaissance aerial of the flying-bomb launch site at Bois Carre
near Abbeville, France, taken by a North American Mustang of No. 170 Squadron RAF.
The non-magnetic building (Richthaus) can be seen beneath its camouflaged canopy in the centre of the photograph,
while the buildings of the compressor and decontamination group are in the right foreground.
(ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945. IWM (C 4425))
Both photographs by RAF 170 Squadron, Sortie R/134/170 or R/135/170, 9-Nov-1943. (Williams, 2014)

See websites "V1 launch site Bois Carre" (PDF),
"V1-Heavy Base Yvrench Bois Carre" (PDF)
and "V-1 Flying Bomb" (PDF)
for more information, including photographs of still existing structures.

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Box I -- Flight I
1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Maj Campbell, M.W. Lt Palin, W.H. S/Sgt Norton, C.Q. S/Sgt Citty, F.M.	2 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Bresnak, J.D. S/Sgt Cope, G.F.	3 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Carney, H.O.
4 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G.	5 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A.	6 668th 43-9377 5H-W A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C.

Box I -- Flight II
1 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Capt Huff, M.J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. Pfc Rapacz, H.S. [Rapacz (4th CCU)]	2 669th 43-9679 2A-W A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E.	3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F.
4 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Sommers, H.L. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E.	5 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S.	6 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G.

Box I -- Flight III
1 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Capt Battersby, W. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E.	2 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M.	3 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr.
4 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Brown, F.E.	5 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kleopfel, M.E., Jr. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr.	6 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M.

Box I
SPARE 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt McDonald, A.A. S/Sgt Shields, J.J. S/Sgt Epps, E.T.

Box II -- Flight I
1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A.	2 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.	3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P.
4 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. Sgt Brayn, M.R.	5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Falk, F.G.	6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Sgt Stephens, D.W.

Box II -- Flight II
1 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Mayhew, A.E. [Mayhew (4th CCU)]	2 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R.	3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R.
4 671st 43-9724 5C-W A-20G Lt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. S/Sgt Rust, E.W.	5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P.	6 671st 43-9707 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C.

Box II -- Flight III
1 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. Pvt McKee, J.C.	2 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F.	3 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B.
4 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I.	5 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Col Ford, T.R. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F.	6 670th 43-9386 F6-W A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr.

Box II
SPARE 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 22 -- April 20, 1944, Thursday PM
Yvrench Bois Carre, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/39)

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

The 20th was the first day that we ran two full-strength missions in one day. In the morning 38 planes took off to bomb a NOBALL target at Gorenfloe [Gorenflos]. A cloud cover of .8 to .9 hid the target so that no attack was made. Haze again obscured the target at Yvrench/Bois Carre from view from the 38 planes that took off in the afternoon. No attack was made.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 53

Mission #22 - 20 April - PM - Yvrench/Bois Carre NoBall. The 38 planes had hardly cooled down from the morning flight when they were reloaded for a second mission. As on the morning mission, clouds and haze obscured the ground and no bombs were dropped. Those bombs had to be tired, hanging there on shackles all day long,. Flak along the route was heavy with damage sustained by a number of our planes. A B-26 outfit was flying to the right of our formation, and they seemed to be the target for the gunners, as flak bursts enveloped the group. One parachute was seen blossomed out, and another chute dropped over the channel. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led this group.

The STARS AND STRIPES gave the 416th front page coverage citing the successes the group enjoyed since starting their medium, level bombing a little over a month ago,. The article mentioned the problems encountered by Ostrander and his two gunners, Wilson and Binney on the group's first mission.

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Major Meng led a mission on the 20th to the Gorenflos noball target with nine of our crews taking part. However, because of poor weather and cloud cover over the target no bombs were dropped. Eight 670th crews took part in the second mission of the 20th of April which was an attack on the Yvrench Bois Carre noball target.

The Stars and Stripes, the armed forces newspaper in the European Theatre of Operations, revealed the presence of our type of unit in this theatre on April 20th (See exhibit # 15 attached. ) In a description of the work of this group, space was given to the bailing out episode of Lt Ostrander, S/Sgt Binney and S/Sgt Wilson of this squadron. This was our first bit of publicity and it resulted in a rush for the limited copies of the paper.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

The ships were hardly down from the mission when the wheels began to turn and the 416th Bomb Group was slated to hit the enemy coast.... this time a No-Ball at Boiscarre. Taking off at 1800, the formation made it's landfall just north of Dieppe, actually right over the town, and were greeted with moderate and accurate flak. However, this did not stop the bombers and they proceeded on course. Flak came up at irregular intervals all the way to the target. Along with the flak came something new, small white balls which seemed to fill the formation, but caused no damage or unusual effects. What this was is yet to be found.

As in the afternoon, the weather was very hazy and the bombardiers could not find an opening to drop the bombs. So much to their regret, the planes hauled the bombs back for the second time that day. The path chosen was right between Abbeville and De Crecy Forest where a number of ack-ack guns are located. Luckily for the formation a Marauder outfit was on the right and seemed to be catching all the flak thrown up.

S/Sgt. Hollis Foster observed a parachutist about 5 miles inland and on course as the planes were flying out. S/Sgt. Egon Rust of the same crew also saw what he thought to be a parachutist striking the water about 15 miles from the enemy coast.

Almost all of the ships received battle damage on this trip, but no one was injured. One plane blew out a tire on landing. That was due to no hydraulic pressure and the use of the air bottle.