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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 44 -- May 11, 1944, Thursday PM Aerschot, Belgium Marshalling Yards (S.5275)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 44 -- May 11, 1944, Thursday PM Aerschot, Belgium Marshalling Yards (S.5275)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 31 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Target Operational Number: ZB 925 Illustration : NEG. 3100 Illustration Ref : 023057 Summary of Results : Box 1 - Good Box 2 - Poor - Poor visibility made recognition of target very difficult. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.98446,4.82404 (50° 59' 4" N, 4° 49' 27" 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 # 44 -- May 11, 1944, Thursday PM
Aerschot, Belgium -- Marshalling Yards (S.5275)
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Mayhew, A.E. [Mayhew (4th CCU)] |
2 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Col Mace, H.L. Sgt Zeikus, A.J. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. |
| 4 670th 43-9696 F6-G A-20G Lt Crispino, J.C. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E. |
5 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
6 670th 43-9386 F6-W A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
| 1 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Capt Conant, H.F. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
2 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
3 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kleopfel, M.E., Jr. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr. |
| 4 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
5 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. |
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 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
| 4 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
5 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
| SPARE 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Clark, R.A. Lt Jones, C.W. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
3 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. Sgt Wolber, R.A. [Wolber (4th CCU)] |
| 4 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9983 2A-J A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
6 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
2 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. [No Sortie] |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
| 4 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
5 669th 43-9679 2A-R A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
6 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Maj Radetsky, H.A. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
| 1 671st 43-10129 5C-I A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. S/Sgt Rust, E.W. |
5 669th 43-9214 2A-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
6 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 44 -- May 11, 1944, Thursday PM
Aerschot, Belgium -- Marshalling Yards (S.5275)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The afternoon, a formation of 38 planes bombed the Marshalling Yards at Aerschot. Smoke coming up from the bombbursts from the first box, led by Major Meng and Lt Powell, hindered the second box's Bombardier-Navigator, Lt Jones, flying with Captain Clark, from aiming accurately. Results were fair. The intensity of the enemy's flak fire seemed to be increasing. Fourteen planes were hit by flak.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 73 - 74
Mission #44 - PM - 11 May - Aerschot Marshalling Yard.
Major Meng with Lt. Powell, BN led box I and Captain Clark
with Lt. Jones BN, led box II. When Powell dropped his bombs,
the fire and smoke was so intense that it obscured the aiming
point for Lt. Jones who could not drop without knowing where
his bombs were going, so they returned with their load. The flak
increased its intensity, resulting in 14 planes being damaged
severely.
Members of the 668th squadron traveled to Cambridge
Military Cemetery to attend the burial service for Captain
Battersby and PFC Coleman. It was a mass service with about 25
flag draped coffins ready for internment. Roll call was given, and
individuals present saluted their friends for the last time. Then
four chaplains gave a short serrnon, and a rifle salute was fired.
Taps were blown and re-echoed. It was a stirring ceremony and
we shall all remember it. Officers and enlisted men were buried
side by side there, the democratic way. Rows on Rows of white
crosses and Stars of David, are there, giving testimony to
American bravery and valor.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
May 11th brought another attack on the Aerschot marshalling yards and an attack on the Monchy Breton airdrome. On these two missions, eighteen 670th crews were used. Lt Gruetzemacher suffered minor flak wounds while over the Monchy Breton target, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
After a four day recess the 416th Bomb Group reached a new bombing high, crossing the English Channel 11 times from May 7th thru May 13th to smash enemy installations in France and Belgium. The Havocs were out in force twice on the 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12th of May, while just once on the 13th. No mission was flown on May 10th because of poor weather.
Marshalling Yards, Airdromes and "No-Balls" were hit in the weeks operations which culminated in a great loss to the 671st Bomb Squadron.