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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 27 -- April 25, 1944, Tuesday AM Bois D'Enfer, France NOBALL (XI/A/99)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 27 -- April 25, 1944, Tuesday AM Bois D'Enfer, France NOBALL (XI/A/99)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 3097 Illustration : A/99/3 Illustration Ref : 035045 Summary of Results : Box 1 - Good Box 2 - Did not bomb due to low clouds and shadows obscuring target are and preventing recognition. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.64113,2.21881 (50° 38' 28" N, 2° 13' 8" 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 # 27 -- April 25, 1944, Tuesday AM
Bois D'Enfer, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/99)
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Mayhew, A.E. [Mayhew (4th CCU)] |
2 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt Battersby, W. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
3 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. [Did not take off] |
5 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. |
6 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Siracusa, L.J. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Steele, F.N. [Steele (4th CCU)] |
2 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
3 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. |
| 4 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. |
5 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
6 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
| 1 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Marzolf, L.A. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
3 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
5 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
6 668th 43-9377 5H-W A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Lt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
3 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. Pvt McKee, J.C. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Capt Huff, M.J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
2 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
3 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
| 4 669th 43-9679 2A-W A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
5 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. |
6 669th 43-9743 2A-R A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. |
| 1 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bresnak, J.D. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
3 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
| 4 670th 43-9386 F6-W A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. |
5 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 27 -- April 25, 1944, Tuesday AM
Bois D'Enfer, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/99)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The following day, the 25th, our planes attacked with renewed vigor. The morning mission produced good results against a NOBALL installation in the Bois d'Enger. The 37 planes attacking in two boxes led by Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty, B/N, and Captain Hulse with Lt. Conte, B/N, dropped only 71 x 500 G.P. bombs. Low clouds and shadows prevented recognition of the target by the second box leader. The bombs that were dropped had good results. The afternoon attack was made by 37 planes against coastal batteries at St. Pierre du Mont. The two boxes led by Major Meng with Lt. Powell, B/N, and Captain Dunn with Lt. Arrington, B/N, returned after dropping a heavy concentration of bombs in the target area with no battle damage.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 55
Mission #27 - 25 April - AM - Bois D'Enfer. The 37 planes led by Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty, BN on Box I with Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte leading Box II, headed for this noball site which was heavily defended. The first box got to drop their bombs with good results. Low clouds and shadows prevented the second box from seeing the target, so no drop was made. Lt. Siracuse with Lt. McBrien, BN took a direct hit on a wing and an engine. Gas and oil were streaming out the the hit areas, but Siracusa managed to get the plane to English soil, even though losing altitude very fast.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions on the 25th of April, one on the 26th, and two on the 27th brought about the attacks on one noball target, a coastal battery at St Pierre du Mont, the Louvain Marshalling yards, the Monceau Sur Sambre marshalling yards and the Arras marshalling yards. Forty-five sorties were accomplished on these missions, concluding a busy but gratifying three days for the squadron.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Major Willetts and "Shorty" Royalty led the first box to the target, a "No-Ball", on the morning of April 25, 1944. Landfall was made at Berk Sur Mer where barrage balloons were reported, but not encountered. No flak was encountered until the bomb run, which proved that the lead ship was flying true to course. Here the St. Omar defenses opened up on the formation, but the bursts were to the right and they escaped with little damage. Bombing results were good.