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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 64 -- June 2, 1944, Friday PM Gorenflos, France NOBALL (XI/A/37)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 64 -- June 2, 1944, Friday PM Gorenflos, France NOBALL (XI/A/37)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 41 Total -- 36 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 3004B Illustration : A/37/1 Illustration Ref : 011016 Summary of Results : Two boxes, 19 ships each box, with the last 3 ships in each flight and 3 ships preceding formation dispersing window. Box 1 - Good Box 2 - Fair Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.09444,2.05417 (50° 5' 40" N, 2° 3' 15" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on V1 Sites, GORENFLOS) (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 # 64 -- June 2, 1944, Friday PM
Gorenflos, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/37)
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Maj Campbell, M.W. Lt Palin, W.H. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
2 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Capt McClellan, A. |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. |
| 4 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
5 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
6 669th 43-10148 2A-H A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
| 1 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Newkirk, A.W., Jr. S/Sgt Anderson, E.A. |
| 4 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
6 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
| 1 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. Pvt Herttua, J.R. |
2 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
3 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. S/Sgt Love, C.F. |
| 4 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. |
5 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
6 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Nikas, A.P. Sgt Smith, H.W. Sgt Scott, G.W. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Maciulewicz, P.P. S/Sgt Shatzer, H.E. |
2 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Capt Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
3 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
| 4 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
5 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. Sgt Vafiadis, C. Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
6 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
| 1 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. Sgt Blackford, D.S. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
3 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Martinez, L. Sgt Paules, E.F. |
| 4 670th 43-10157 F6-P A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
| 1 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. Sgt Troyer, R.J. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
2 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 4 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. Sgt Zeikus, A.J. |
5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. Sgt Young, J.O. Sgt Garrett, A.D. |
6 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. Sgt Jones, R.J. Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. Sgt Rice, R.W. Sgt Young, C.E. |
| 1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
2 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 64 -- June 2, 1944, Friday PM
Gorenflos, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/37)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Mission #64, the first mission in June, was flown on the 2nd. Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B-N, had been sharpening up their batting eyes in May. They led the first box of this 41-ship formation, with Lt. Sommers, with Lt. R.J. McQuade, B-N, leading the second box. When PRU planes circled the Noball target at Corenflos, they found that our bombs had suspended it temporarily. This was the second successive Noball target that the CampbellPalin combination had suspended.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 89
Mission #64 - 2 June - Gorenflos Noball. Major Campbell with Lt. Palin, BN led Box I, with Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte BN, flying deputy. Box II was led by Captain Dunn and Lt. Arrington, BN. Bombing results were good, with light inaccurate flak experienced. P-47s provided escorts. Lt. McBride of the 670th squadron showed the mettle of which these pilots were cast. He noticed the manifold pressure for his left engine dropped to zero. Continuing on single engine, he kept on the path to the target, but he had fallen behind the flight. Watching the formation way ahead of him dropping their bombs, he flew up to where he thought they dropped their bombs and let his load go after counting five. Pictures of the strikes showed his bombs hit the target squarely. Who needs a bombardier? Turning off the target, he tagged way behind the formation which was taking flak. He was not threatened. Fighters escorted him back over the channel, where he landed at the base, none the least for wear.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The first of June found the Squadron, as the rest of the world, anxiously looking forward to the day of Invasion. But we did not await in idleness the opening of the Second Front. Our aircraft continued to pound the military installations of the Atlantic Wall, and the vital rail centers of Western Europe. On the 3rd of June we were restricted, and all passes and leaves cancelled. When we discovered in addition that our mail was not reaching its destination; and when on the 5th of June our planes were striped with white paint, obviously for purposes of identification, we knew that the Day could not be far off.
The night of June 3rd, the officers held their second party in the Club. Proceedings were slightly dampened by a twilight mission which kept many of the flyers away from the gathering until quite late in the evening. In spite of this however, the party was highly successful, and enjoyed by all who attended.
On the mission of 3rd June, referred to above, Second Lieutenant Anton P. Nikas, 0 813 560, was reported Missing in Action, together with his gunners, Staff Sergeant Arlington W. Newkirk, 13157600, and Sergeant George W. Scott, 35548906. Lieutenant Nikas, a recently assigned pilot, had been awarded the Air Medal and was on his sixth combat mission. Sergeant Scott, also a newcomer, had flown 8 missions. Staff Sergeant "Scotty" Newkirk, who came over with the outfit from the States, was a veteran of 33 combat missions.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Group flew three missions in June prior to D-Day. The first, on the 2nd of June, was one of those all-669th shows. The two boxes were led by Major Campbell and Lt. Sommers, with Lt. Palin and Lt. McQuade the Bombardier-Navigators. When PRU planes photofraphed [photographed] the target, a Noball at Gorenfloss, after our attack, they found that our bombs had suspended it temporarily. This was the second successive Noball target that the Campbell-Palin team had suspended.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 2 June we had 10 sorties flown against the Gorenflos no-ball target. On this mission Lt McBride performed another run which exemplified the spirit of our pilots. Just before the bomb run, the manifold pressure dropped off on the left engine. Running on one engine, the plane dropped behind in formation, but Lt McBride continued to follow the group in to the target. He saw the formation drop its bombs, finally caught up to where he thought they had dropped, counted five, dropped his, and hit exactly on the target, as pictures later proved. Lt McBride later stated "I knew I was going to have to drop them somewhere, and there was no better place than where they were supposed to be dropped." He turned off the target, still far behind the formation. There was flak thrown up at the rest of the planes, but none at his in his lone position. Fighters dropped back, hovered over him and escorted him back to the English coast. Lt McBride then proceeded to make his way back to his home field.
"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.