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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 57 -- May 27, 1944, Saturday PM Amiens, France Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 57 -- May 27, 1944, Saturday PM Amiens, France Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 41 Total -- 35 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4902E/C/14 Illustration : 4902E/5 Illustration Ref : 114063 Summary of Results : No attempt was made to attack target due to navigational error. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.89030,2.30970 (49° 53' 25" N, 2° 18' 35" 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 # 57 -- May 27, 1944, Saturday PM
Amiens, France -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Maj Campbell, M.W. Lt Palin, W.H. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
3 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
| 4 669th 43-10206 2A-F A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. Sgt Young, C.E. |
5 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
6 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
| 1 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. Sgt Newell, S.P. |
2 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Chustz, R.F. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
| 4 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. |
5 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Nikas, A.P. Sgt Scott, G.W. Sgt Smith, H.W. |
6 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
| 1 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. Sgt Troyer, R.J. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 4 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. Sgt Zeikus, A.J. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. |
5 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. Sgt Schrom, R.G. Sgt Galender, J.W. |
6 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. Sgt Zygiel, L.A. Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9983 2A-J A-20G Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Clark, R.A. Lt Jones, C.W. Sgt Rodgers, H.C. Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
2 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
3 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| 4 669th 43-10148 2A-H A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
5 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
6 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| 1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
2 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Maj Meng, W.J. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
3 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 4 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
| 1 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
5 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
6 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 57 -- May 27, 1944, Saturday PM
Amiens, France -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
When we first began operations, Sunday became known as "Bloody Sunday." It seemed that every Sunday our planes were shot up more than on any other day. "Bloody Sunday" soon was changed to "Bloody Saturday." Saturday, 27 May, was no exception. In the morning, our planes followed the 409th Bomb Group (L) on an attack on the Amiens Marshalling Yards. When they lost a box leader and a deputy leader, they soon strayed far from the course. Major Campbell decided to abandon the mission. Lt Palin, his Bombardier-Navigator, rose to the occasion, and led the planes back to the base. Several of the planes from the 409th Bomb Group (L) joined onto the tail-end of our formation and returned with us. Captain Clark led the second box.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 80 - 81
Mission #57 - May 27 - AM - Amiens Marshalling Yard. Our group were scheduled to fall behind the 409th Bomb Group and go into this target with boxes from both groups. The first box leader, and his deputy (of the 409th) were both knocked out of the air. This is what flak gunners shoot for, the leaders, and for the first time they did it well. The remainder of the formation strayed off course. Major Campbell decided to abandon the mission. His BN - Lt. Palin decided the two groups needed a leader to get everybody back to base, so he arranged to take the lead, and navigated everybody back to base. The 409th strays, tagged along behind to get to their home, also. Captain Clark and Lt. Jones, BN led our second Box. Lts. Marzolf and Basnett, BN led flights.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
From May 23rd to May 30th, the squadron flew a total of ninety-eight
sorties on missions to attack the Beaumont-LeRoger airdrome; the
Abbeville-Drucat airdrome; the Monchy-Breton airdrome; the Beauvais-
Tille airdrome; the Amiens marshalling yards; the Bruges-St Michiel
Naval Radar Direction Finder Station in Belgium; the Vacqueriette
Noball site; the Behen Noball site; the Achiet airdrome and the
Denain-Prouby airdrome.
Lt Crispino was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries
sustained on the 19th, and Sgt Zaklikiewicz for wounds sustained on
May 26th.
The Stars and Strips carried an article on May 24th, which
concerned the group. In the story about veteran gunners of other
campaigns of this war, S/Sgt Riley and S/Sgt Kidd of our unit,
received credit due them for previous operational experience. (See
Exhibit # 19 attached.)
Lt Maltby received his promotion to 1st Lt on May 22nd.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
The 416th crossed the Channel 10 times from May 26th through June 4th to paste the enemy Airdromes, Marshalling Yards and No-Balls in air operations which were intended to knock the blocks from under the Nazis transportation, communication, and defense set-up in occupied France.
May 27th , 1944 was a day, which the combat crews of this outfit won't forget so readily. The target was the Amiens Marshalling Yards. The 409th Bomb Group led the Wing in the morning, but the formations never reached the target... the leader being knocked out of the air. The planes returned with 50% battle damage, and the terrific flak barrage that had hit the formation had put a strain on the crews. The afternoon's news that The Outfit was going back to Amiens brought on a lot of moaning, for the crews realized it was going to be a rough ordeal. Our crews were in the last box, of the two to go out; luckily for us, for the first box caught all the hell and four planes were knocked out. However, one of them reached England safely, although the two gunners bailed out over enemy territory.