416th BG Mission 23

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.

Mission # 23 -- April 21, 1944, Friday AM
Yvrench Bois Carre, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/39)

Box I -- 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 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R.	3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P.
4 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I.	5 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Sgt Stephens, D.W.	6 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Crispino, J.C. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E.

Box I -- 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 670th
43-9439 F6-J A-20J
Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr.
Lt Conte, R.F., Sr.
S/Sgt Donahue, W.J.
S/Sgt Brayn, M.R.

3 671st
43-9219 5C-D A-20G
Lt Merchant, W.A.
S/Sgt Harp, C.J.
S/Sgt Brown, K.P.

4 670th
43-9200 F6-A A-20G
Lt Ostrander, W.B.
S/Sgt Wilson, J.E.
S/Sgt Binney, I.

5 670th
43-9680 F6-R A-20G
Lt Hillerman, J.P.
S/Sgt Allred, F.D.
Sgt Stephens, D.W.

6 670th
43-9750 F6-M A-20G
Lt Crispino, J.C.
S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr.
S/Sgt Conopask, R.E.

Box I -- Flight II
1 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Stockwell, R.E. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L.	2 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Cowgill, G.W. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. S/Sgt Rust, E.W.	3 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W.
4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Schouten, J.T. Sgt Feistl, J.E. S/Sgt Williamson, R.R.	5 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.	6 671st 43-9707 5C-H A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P.

Box I -- Flight II

1 671st
43-9711 5C-M A-20G
Lt Stockwell, R.E.
S/Sgt Johnson, K.L.
S/Sgt Czech, J.L.

2 671st
43-9714 5C-N A-20G
Lt Cowgill, G.W.
S/Sgt Foster, H.A.
S/Sgt Rust, E.W.

3 671st
43-9221 5C-F A-20G
Lt Wheeler, R.V.
S/Sgt Brower, J.S.
S/Sgt Corrin, E.W.

4 671st
43-9493 5C-V A-20G
Lt Schouten, J.T.
Sgt Feistl, J.E.
S/Sgt Williamson, R.R.

5 671st
43-9393 5C-K A-20G
Lt Greenley, R.E.
S/Sgt Worden, H.C.
S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.

6 671st
43-9707 5C-H A-20G
Lt Smith, R.H.
S/Sgt Stockham, A.A.
S/Sgt Adams, V.P.

Box I -- Flight III
1 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Capt Jackson, C.R. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. Pvt McKee, J.C.	2 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F.	3 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L.
4 670th 43-9386 F6-W A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. Sgt Colbert, W.F.	5 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S.	6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr.

Box I -- Flight III

1 670th
43-9207 F6-B A-20G
Capt Jackson, C.R.
S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J.
Pvt McKee, J.C.

2 670th
43-9978 F6-S A-20G
Lt Rooney, R.J.
S/Sgt McCleary, H.M.
S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F.

3 670th
43-9227 F6-F A-20G
Lt Nordstrom, A.W.
S/Sgt Gossett, J.D.
S/Sgt Miller, R.L.

4 670th
43-9386 F6-W A-20G
Lt Greene, W.J.
S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A.
Sgt Colbert, W.F.

5 670th
43-9224 F6-E A-20G
Lt Monroe, H.A.
S/Sgt Kidd, W.L.
S/Sgt Risko, S.

6 670th
43-9689 F6-I A-20G
Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr.
S/Sgt Glynn, P.F.
Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr.

Box I
SPARE 671st 43-9724 5C-W A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. Cpl Troyer, R.J.

Box II -- Flight I
1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr.	2 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Battersby, W. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr.	3 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M.
4 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Norton, C.Q. S/Sgt Citty, F.M.	5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. S/Sgt Kelly, W.J.	6 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O.

Box II -- Flight I

1 669th
43-9450 2A-S A-20J
Maj Price, R.F.
Lt Hand, A.R.
S/Sgt Shaw, L.R.
S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr.

2 670th
43-9455 F6-T A-20J
Capt Battersby, W.
Lt Lytle, W.M.
S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr.
S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr.

3 668th
43-9379 5H-G A-20G
Lt Peede, L.G.
S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L.
S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M.

4 669th
43-9202 2A-B A-20G
Lt Morton, R.J.
S/Sgt Norton, C.Q.
S/Sgt Citty, F.M.

5 670th
43-9217 F6-D A-20G
Lt Behlmer, R.L.
S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G.
S/Sgt Kelly, W.J.

6 669th
43-9211 2A-C A-20G
Lt DeMun, E.E.
S/Sgt Rosenstein, M.
S/Sgt Carney, H.O.

Box II -- Flight II
1 668th 43-9377 5H-W A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Orr, J.R.	2 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C.	3 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S.
4 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E.	5 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E.	6 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.

Box II -- Flight II

1 668th
43-9377 5H-W A-20G
Capt Conant, H.F.
S/Sgt McCreery, J.E.
S/Sgt Orr, J.R.

2 668th
43-9893 5H-P A-20G
Lt Bartmus, G.F.
S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr.
S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C.

3 668th
43-9195 5H-D A-20G
Lt Downing, W.E.
S/Sgt Damico, E.A.
S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S.

4 668th
43-9194 5H-C A-20G
Lt Siracusa, L.J.
S/Sgt Hume, J.N.
S/Sgt Brown, F.E.

5 668th
43-9684 5H-K A-20G
Lt Kreh, E.B.
S/Sgt Coe, W.H.
S/Sgt Kelly, E.E.

6 668th
43-9223 5H-F A-20G
Lt Poindexter, R.D.
T/Sgt Robbins, L.G.
S/Sgt Simpson, D.H.

Box II -- Flight III
1 669th 43-9941 2A-U A-20G Capt Huff, M.J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F.	2 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt McDonald, A.A. S/Sgt Shields, J.J. S/Sgt Epps, E.T.	3 669th 43-9226 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Wing, J.S.
4 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. Sgt Kelton, H.E.	5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. [Not Airborne]	6 669th 43-9743 2A-R A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Radlich, N. Sgt Nicks, R.W.

Box II -- Flight III

1 669th
43-9941 2A-U A-20G
Capt Huff, M.J.
S/Sgt Thompson, J.B.
S/Sgt Hatch, H.F.

2 669th
43-9717 2A-N A-20G
Lt McDonald, A.A.
S/Sgt Shields, J.J.
S/Sgt Epps, E.T.

3 669th
43-9226 2A-E A-20G
Lt Street, M.S.
S/Sgt Prindle, C.A.
S/Sgt Wing, J.S.

4 669th
43-9376 2A-O A-20G
Lt Peck, W.A.
S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E.
Sgt Kelton, H.E.

5 669th
43-9900 2A-Q A-20G
Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr.
S/Sgt Webb, C.L.
S/Sgt Coffey, G.L.
[Not Airborne]

6 669th
43-9743 2A-R A-20G
Lt Siggs, W.C.
S/Sgt Radlich, N.
Sgt Nicks, R.W.

Box II
SPARE 669th 43-9679 2A-W A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 23 -- April 21, 1944, Friday AM
Yvrench Bois Carre, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/39)

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

The target that had escaped bombing the afternoon before was suspended on the following day. Although the first box led by Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty, B/N, was far off the target, Major Price's box with Lt. Hand, B/N, dropped a good concentration of bombs in the target area with excellent results.

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

Mission #23 - 2l April - Yvrench/Bois Carre NoBall. Again - These people keep rebuilding what we knock down, so they must be pretty important targets. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led Box I with Major Price and Lt. Hand BN leading Box II. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led a flight. The first box came in over the target area too wide and did not drop. The second box did, however, made up for that by plastering the target. No enemy opposition was experienced.

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

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.

The publicity given Lt Ostrander's crew seemed to do no good in the way of luck. The next day this crew was one of the ten crews which took part from this squadron in an attack on the Yvrench Bois Carre noball target. The target was knocked out of commission by excellent bombing. Considerable flak was experienced and Lt Ostrander brought his ship back pretty well shot up. When they landed, Lt Ostrander, and S/Sgts Wilson and Binney said - "no more publicity."

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

The "No-Ball" for today was the unpronounceable Yurench Bois Carre. Major David Willetts led with "Shorty" Royalty doing the bombigating. The mission came in the milk run classification, no enemy opposition worth note. Bombing results were good.