416th BG Mission 6

Missing Air Crew Reports, Aircraft Accident Reports, and other incidents
Date	Report	A/C Serial # Type	Mis- sion #	Bomb Sq	Location	Personnel (Status when available)
Mar 19, 1944 Sunday	No_Report	43-9444 A-20J	6	668	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Meng, William Jones (Not Injured) Powell, Vernon H. (WIA) Stobert, Ralph F. (Not Injured) Glynn, Frances Patrick (Not Injured)
Mar 19, 1944 Sunday	No_Report	43-9220 A-20G	6	671	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Cole, Hilary Primus (Not Injured) Chvatal, Franklin R. (WIA) Fandre, Benjamin Gust (Not Injured)
Mar 19, 1944 Sunday	No_Report	43-9225 A-20G	6	671	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Dunn, Lloyd Francis (LWIA) Foster, Hollis Alfred (Not Injured) Rust, Egon Willie (Not Injured)
Mar 19, 1944 Sunday	No_Report	43-9699 A-20G	6	671	Wethersfield/Sta 170	Schouten, Joseph Thomas (Not Injured) Feistl, Joseph E. (WIA) Williamson, Robert Ray (Not Injured)
Mar 19, 1944 Sunday	No_Report	43-9751 A-20G	6	669	English Coast	Pair, Horace F. (WIA) Marion, Herbert A. (WIA) Adams, Victor P. (WIA)

Box I -- Flight I
1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Towles, C.S., Jr. Lt Smith, W.L. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E.	2 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S.	3 670th 43-9696 F6-G A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Falk, F.G.
4 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. Sgt Glynn, F.P.	5 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W.	6 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. Sgt White, H.E. Sgt Addleman, R.F.

Box I -- Flight II
1 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Cpl Swafford, J.O., Jr. Sgt Glynn, P.F.	2 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. Sgt Driskill, P.B.	3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Frey, J.A. S/Sgt Miller, R.L.
4 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J.	5 671st 43-9203 5C-A A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I.	6 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt Friedlob, E.M. Sgt Eutsler, R.J.

Box I -- Flight III
1 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Maj Price, R.F. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L.	2 668th 43-9216 5H-E A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr.	3 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M.
4 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E.	5 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R.	6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W.

Box II -- Flight I
1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Basnett, R.J. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. Sgt Lempka, H.A.	2 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. Sgt Chvatal, F.R. Sgt Fandre, B.G.	3 671st 43-9707 5C-H A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Best, H.T. Sgt DeGiusti, I.R.
4 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Capt Dunn, L.F. S/Sgt Foster, H.A. Sgt Rust, E.W.	5 671st 43-9699 5C-I A-20G Lt Schouten, J.T. Pvt Feistl, J.E. S/Sgt Williamson, R.R.	6 671st 43-9218 5C-C A-20G Lt Cramsie, W.E. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. Sgt Corrin, E.W.

Box II -- Flight II
1 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. Sgt Czech, J.L.	2 669th 43-9226 2A-E A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. Sgt Cook, G.M. Sgt Werley, E.R.	3 669th 43-9370 2A-D A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. Sgt Linneman, R.H.
4 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Stockwell, R.E. S/Sgt Henshaw, C.R. Sgt Steward, J.	5 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. Sgt Rzepka, J.J.	6 669th 43-9751 2A-H A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. Sgt Adams, V.P.

Box II -- Flight III
1 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Maj Campbell, M.W. S/Sgt Shields, J.J. S/Sgt Epps, E.T.	2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Capt Clark, R.A. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E.	3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Maj Farmer, W.W. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. Sgt Malone, E.C.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 6 -- March 19, 1944, Sunday PM
Wisques, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/96)

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

Thirty-three planes were sent out the next day with Major Towles as leader to attack a Noball target at Wisques in the Pas de Calais area. The mission had been run at a time when B-17's and B-26's were operating in the same area. In the course of the three passes made at the target by our planes, we suffered 100% battle damage. Lt. Vernon H. Powell, Bombardier-Navigator of the lead plane piloted by Major Meng, was hit in the side of the head by a piece of flak. His helmet absorbed the force of the blow but Lt. Powell was knocked unconscious. Lt. Horace F. Pair had his plane well shot up and had to make a forced landing. He landed his plane with his two gunners, S/Sgt. Herbert A. Marion and Sgt. Victor P. Adams, on the slope of a hill just inside the English coastline near Hastings. The gunners escaped unscathed, but Lt. Pair broke an ankle in the landing. His plane burst into flames, but his gunners with the help of onlookers pulled him from the plane.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 44 - 45

Mission #6 - 19 March - Wisques NoBall site. Our attack bombers, flying at lower altitudes than heavy bombers, could have better aiming possibilities on these well concealed and camouflaged targets.

Major Towles led the formation of 36 aircraft on what turned out to be a real baptism of fire. Flak was everywhere around the target. Fire and smoke obscured the target for the first box, but the second box was able to make out the aiming point and dropped their load. The first box came around and made a second run, while the anti-aircraft gunners had plenty of time to reload and re-aim, making the second bomb run dangerous. A third pass on the target was made by other flights. This got the attention of the gunners and they peppered everything in the sky.

Major Meng and Lt. Vernon Powell, BN - Major Willetts and Lt. Robert Basnett, BN - Major M. W. Campbell and Lt. W. H. Palin, BN - Captain R. A. Clark with Lt. C. W. Jones BN - and Major Radetsky with Lt. W. L. Smith BN led flights. Lt. Powell had a large piece of flak crash against his helmet, knocking him cold.

As our formation neared this heavily defended target, our boys saw a B-17 tumbling out of the sky in front of them, with some seeing parachutes blossoming out. A B-26 was seen with- out its tail section spinning out of control. A P-47 fighter took a hit, crashing. One of our planes, piloted by Lt. Horace F. Pair was pretty well shot up, causing him to leave the formation heading back to base. He just about made it to the English Coast, when he crash landed. His gunners, staying with him, jumped out and with the help of onlookers, managed to pull Lt. Pair out of his wrecked ship.

Captain Hiram Conant had a harrowing experience when a bomb from another plane dropped on his right wing, damaging the aileron. He managed to bring the plane back.

With each squadron having only ten planes in their inventory, having every one of them damaged in any one mission was something to shake up morale. The ever faithful crew chiefs and line mechanics wasted no time putting everything back to working order, ready for the next thrilling rides by the crews.

"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Over St. Omer the next day, our aircraft suffered their first serious battle damage when we met a barrage of intense and accurate German antiaircraft. A No-Ball was attacked with fair results.

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

The following day, 19 March, eleven crews took part in an attack on the Wisques Noball site. During this attack, Lt. Powell, bombardier, suffered minor flak wounds received over the target, and became the first 670th Bomb Squadron combat casualty, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.

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

The mission on March 19,1944 in which 12 of this Squadron's crews participated was the baptism on the 671st Bomb Squadron into actual combat. Taking off at 1700, the group of 33 planes set course at 1720, but one of the ships had to return because of engine trouble.

The planes made their landfall and began their approach to the target area, St. Omer in Northern France, with Major Towles in the lead ship. Upon nearing the target area a cloud of flak came up to meet the ships and was still there when they left. One B-17 came tumbling down from above in flames and exploded above and ahead of the formation. This incident made the bombers divert from the bomb run and choose another. As the ships were coming up on the bombing line the second time, from the southeast two B-26s', one of which was missing a tail were seen to go down. Two parachutes were reported to have opened. On this same run, a P-47, evidently hit by flak was headed earthward in a steep spiral, and finally hit with an explosion. All during this time flak was exploding around the formation and making hits on the A-20s. The second box of the formation dropped their bombs on this run, but due to a cloud front in the target area, the bombs did not drop true.

Seeing the first box did not drop bombs on either the first or the second runs Major Towles led the formation over the target area again. This time the flak became more accurate, hitting an engine on Lt. Pair's ship. He pulled out of formation and headed back to England. He feathered the prop and crashlanded on the coast. In the meantime his two gunners, S/Sgt. Marion and S/Sgt. Adams, were believed to have bailed out and landed safely. Lt. Pair, however, in the crash landing, suffered what was thought at first to be serious injuries, but which later proved to be moderate injuries. Lt. Pair received treatment in the Royal Sussex hospital and was expected that he would return shortly.

Captain Dunn was greeted by a piece of flak, coming through the right hand side of his windshield and received a scratch on his eyebrow. Mech gunner Chvatel of Lt. Cole's crew received a similar injury when a flak fragment entered the gunner's compartment. Cpl. Fiestl [Feistl], turret gunner in Lt. Schouten's crew, received a small flesh wound in the leg.

Ship No. 220 received the greatest amount of damage due to the flak, Lt. Smith's ship, 707 received a flak hit in the right tire, which in turn blew out on landing, but caused no damage to the aircraft.

Percentage of Battle Damage to all aircraft that participated in the flight was 100%, with one aircraft a total loss due to a fire after Lt. Pair's crash landing was successfully completed

"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

On March 19th while returning from a mission with one engine shot away Lt. Horace F. Pair crash-landed successfully on the English Coast. Lt. Pair was seriously wounded and was sent to a hospital for treatment. Both gunners, S/Sgt. Victor P. Adams, and S/Sgt. Herbert A. Marion, received only minor injuries.