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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 36 -- May 2, 1944, Tuesday PM Blanc Misseron, France Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 36 -- May 2, 1944, Tuesday PM Blanc Misseron, France Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 33 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 610 Illustration : F5560/2 Illustration Ref : 056025 Secondary Target : Tourcoing Marshalling Yards (S5785) (Z610) Summary of Results : Box 1 - Very Good Box 2 - On second run using wrong aiming point dropped on Valenciennes M/Y with a good concentration of hits in this area. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.40718,3.65904 (50° 24' 26" N, 3° 39' 33" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Target Illustration) (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 # 36 -- May 2, 1944, Tuesday PM
Blanc Misseron, France -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
| 4 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| 1 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
2 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. |
3 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
5 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. |
6 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
| 1 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
3 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
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 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
| 1 671st 43-10129 5C-I A-20J Capt Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. Lt Sutliff, G.F. [Sutliff (4th CCU)] |
2 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
3 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
| 4 671st 43-9724 5C-W A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
6 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
3 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
| 4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
6 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. |
| 1 669th 43-9679 2A-R A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. Capt McClellan, A. |
2 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. |
3 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
| 4 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
6 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 36 -- May 2, 1944, Tuesday PM
Blanc Misseron, France -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the next day the Blanc Misseron Marshalling Yards was again the target for the 38 planes that took off. The first box led by Major Meng, Lt Powell, B-N, smashed the target with excellent results. Poor visibility caused the second box, led by Captain Dunn, with Lt Arrington, B-N, to mistake the yards at Valenciennes for the correct target. Much damage was inflicted on the mistaken target, however.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 69 - 70
Mission #36 - 2 May - Blanc Misseron Marshalling Yard
Again. This was a large marshalling yard, requiring extensive
attention by our bombers. Major Meng, and Lt. Powell, BN and
Captain Dunn and Lt. Arrington, BN led boxes. Flights were led
by Lts. Marzolf and Basnett, BN, and Captain Jackson and Lt.
Conte, BN and Lt. Shaefer, his BN was not listed. Our group
attacked this target with the 409th Group, but the timing was a
little off. As the second box, led by Dunn and Arrington, were
making their bomb run, Arrington saw that the first box of the
409th was right above them. He moved his box aside and
watched the bombs from the 409th fall right over the spot he just
left. Something go wrong here? Arrington then made a second
bomb run and dropped his missiles. When strike photos were
developed, it determined that the second box made excellent hits
on a target not planned to be attacked. It was Valecciennes
Marshalling Yard, (after all they all look alike from 12,000 feet),
6 and 1/2 miles away from Blanc Misseron, which was a B-26
target for that day, but evidently at a different time. The 416th
first box results were rated as good.
Inclement weather caused stand-downs with no missions
flown for four days.
This was not counted as a mission, but on 4 May, various
crews were awakened early and told they were going on a secret
mission. They took off at 0500 and returned at 0700. Everything
was hush-hush, so very few people knew what went on, although
results were termed as being satisfactory. Six crews from the
671st were part of this mission, led by Captain Dunn and Lt.
Arrington, BN.
More crews were coming in from replacement centers
and some changes within the squadrons were made, so that a better
balance of crews could be counted in squadrons.
Bombardier-Navigator/Pilot teams were exchanged to give all
squadrons better balance with more lead teams. Promotions were
being received by crews who were with the group from the start.
New Gunners were received to relieve the strain from the number
of missions many of the older gunners were flying. These
older gunners were away up there in age, about 20 on average.
Another "treat" was arranged by Colonel Mace to conduct
a make-believe briefing, so that all ground personnel could
experience what went on during regular briefings. The guys
enjoyed learning what went on behind closed doors at the normal
briefings. The mock up briefing gave the men the intricacies of
what goes on in the planning and execution of missions.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
With two months of operational experience behind us, the squadron looked into the month of May feeling equal to whatever was asked of it. On May 1st and 2nd twenty six crews took part in two attacks on the Blanc Misseron marshalling yards. On the first of these attacks Sgt Maziasz was wounded by flak and received the Purple Heart award.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Target: Blanc Misseron Marshalling Yards.
The job done last evening on this same target apparently did not satisfy higher headquarters. While the shops were hit, they were not knocked out. Accompanied by the 409th Bomb Group, the 416th went after the same target. The mission went about as scheduled until the bomb run. The lead bombardier of the second box (Lt. Arrington) was unable to pick up the target in his sight. The first box bombed, and as the second box crossed the target, the high box (409th) came almost directly over it. Our second box moved aside just in time to prevent the bombs dropping through the formation. Another run was made, and the bombs dropped on a burning target. Captain Dunn and Lt. Arrington were red-faced the next day when the photographs showed that they had bombed Valenciennes M/Y, 6» miles S.W. of the target, a B-26 target of the day. No flak was encountered. Bomb results for the first box were classified as good.
Five New Crews Assigned
Five crews, direct from the States via a Replacement Center in Ireland joined the 671st Bomb Squadron early this month (May) to bolster the combat capacity of this organization. It is necessary for the pilots to undergo a certain amount of orientation flying and learn the formation procedure used by this group on its missions.
Lt. Robert W. York was the first one of the new pilots to go on an operational mission, taking part in the flight on the morning of May 13th , 1944.