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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 78 -- June 15, 1944, Thursday PM Domfront, France Ammunition Dump
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 78 -- June 15, 1944, Thursday PM Domfront, France Ammunition Dump
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 30 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4801W/24 Illustration : 4801W/24 Illustration Ref : 042034 Secondary Target : Mezidon Summary of Results : Bombing by flights of six; results by flight ranged from Fair to Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.58611,-0.66980 (48° 35' 10" N, 0° 40' 11" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vT782028) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
Video clip extracted from "Combat Weekly Digest #38" movie film showing June 15, 1944 416th BG Missions #77 and #78.
Film was photographed by 4th Combat Camera Unit (4th CCU) Cameramen 2nd Lt George E. Lindsay, Pfc Byron K. Allen and/or S/Sgt Arthur E. Mayhew.
This clip was extracted by Wayne Sayles from the complete original film available On-line from U.S. National Archives, "Army Air Forces Combat Weekly Digest, No. 038", Local Identifier: 18-CWD-38.
Duration (Min:Sec): 1:11
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 78 -- June 15, 1944, Thursday PM
Domfront, France -- Ammunition Dump
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. |
2 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. |
5 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. Pfc Allen, B.K. [Allen (4th CCU)] |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 4 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
6 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. Sgt Zygiel, L.A. Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Capt Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Mayhew, A.E. [Mayhew (4th CCU)] |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
5 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. Sgt Ashton, L.A. |
6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. Sgt Schrom, R.G. Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Cole, H.P. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. Sgt Allred, F.D. |
2 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. Cpl McKee, J.C. Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
3 670th 43-10157 F6-P A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
| 4 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Rodgers, H.C. Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
2 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. Lt Hoppe, F.M. |
5 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. Sgt Vafiadis, C. Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
6 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
| 1 668th 43-21750 5H-S A-20J Lt Shaefer, R.F. Lt Burg, J.J. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
5 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
6 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 78 -- June 15, 1944, Thursday PM
Domfront, France -- Ammunition Dump
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon the target was the Domfrost fuel dump and marshalling yard. Again the two boxes, led by Maj. Meng and Capt. Hulse, bombed in flights of sixes. With excellent results, they knocked out the choke point of the marshalling yard and hit the fuel dump, plus a highway in the target area.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 97 - 98
Mission #78 - 15 June PM - Domfront Fuel Depot. Major
Meng and Lt. Powell, BN led this mission with Captain Hulse
and Lt. Conte BN on Box II. Other flishts were led by Lt. Shaefer
and Lt. Burn, BN, Captain Dunn and Lt. Arrington, BN.
Bombing had to be done by flights at 3000 feet altitude due to
lowering clouds, but results were excellent. The fuel depot was
aflame when the formation left. No flak or fighters bothered the
group. Don't you think the fighter escort are happy that the
Luftwaff do not make hits on our group? Perhaps our speed of up
to 250 MPH may confuse them. But, we're happy with the outcome.
On this day, June 15, Lt. McGlohn received his Silver
Star Medal for his heroic efforts on a previous mission. Well
deserved!
16 June - Weather kept all scheduled crews on hold all
day long, with almost start-ups, but cancellations due to closing
in clouds and rain. C'e La vie.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Domfront ammunition dump was attacked on June 15th, with excellent results. This mission was led by Major Meng - his fourth leading position in ten days. Also on June 15th Lt McGlohn was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. (See exhibit #24 attached)
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
On the morning of June 15th this group went out to attack and bomb two bridges located at Lessay, on the west side of the Cherbourg Peninsula. Bombing was done by flights of six aircraft each. The weather going out and over the Channel was very bad and sometimes the formation had to fly as low as 500 feet above the water. However, on approaching the peninsula, the over cast broke and the formation was able to climb to about six thousand feet from which altitude we did our bombing. The results were classed as good although a couple of the flights missed the target, but only by a short distance. No flak was encountered over the entire route and all of the planes returned to base safely... and in the same bad weather the formation took off in.
In the afternoon the 416th went out again. This time the target was a fuel and ammunition dump some ways beyond the bomb line and not very far west of Paris. In the meantime the weather over the continent had closed in and bombing had to be done at about three thousand feet. However, the group had another flak-free mission although some flak was thrown up at the formation in the Caen area. This was wild and inaccurate and did no damage. The fuel dump was left in flames and all of the planes returned to the base in tact. The following crews took part on the missions flown this date:
Morning Mission: Lessay
Afternoon Mission Dom Front Results: Excellent
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[June 15, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, June 15, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |