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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 87 -- June 29, 1944, Thursday PM St. Hilaire to Vitre, France Railroad
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 87 -- June 29, 1944, Thursday PM St. Hilaire to Vitre, France Railroad
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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 Target Ref : RAILROAD. HILAIRE TO VITRE Illustration Ref : Y-396769, Y-386646, Y-378615, Y-336569, 4802W/59 - 089072, 4802W/15 - 022030 Summary of Results : Bombing results by flight ranged from Unknown to Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.19932,-1.19058 (48° 11' 58" N, 1° 11' 26" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vY378615) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 1944 Thursday |
No_Report | 43-21750 A-20J |
87 | 668 | Shaefer, Richard F. (WIA)
Lytle, William Mantell (Not Injured) Fejes, John Andrew Jr. (WIA) Judd, Earl R. Jr. (WIA) |
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| Jun 29, 1944 Thursday |
MACR 6192 |
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43-9684 A-20G |
87 | 668 | NE St Lo, Fr. | Baxter, Bruce Edward (MIA, KIA)
Potter, Harold A. (MIA, POW, RTD) Ernstrom, Reed Ludvig (MIA, KIA) |
| Jun 29, 1944 Thursday |
No_Report | 43-9900 A-20G |
87 | 669 | Elliott, Donald W. (Not Injured)
McGuire, John J. (WIA) Mani, Jack NMI (WIA) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 87 -- June 29, 1944, Thursday PM
St. Hilaire to Vitre, France -- Railroad
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. |
2 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Col Ford, T.R. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. Sgt Elliott, F.W. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
6 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Cole, H.P. Lt Beck, J.T. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 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 Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Zeikus, A.J. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. |
6 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Ashton, L.A. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. |
| 1 668th 43-21750 5H-S A-20J Lt Shaefer, R.F. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. Sgt Wright, R.E. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
| 4 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
5 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G F/O Baxter, B.E. Sgt Ernstrom, R.L. Sgt Potter, H.A. |
6 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Giesy, S.H., Jr. Sgt Cherry, F.E. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9935 5H-F A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. [No Sortie Returned Early as Briefed] |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. Sgt Dias, M.E. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
5 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. Sgt Paules, E.F. Sgt Martinez, L. |
6 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. Lt Lindsay, G.E. [Lindsay (4th CCU)] |
2 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
3 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
| 4 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt DeMun, E.E. Lt Smith, W.L. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
2 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
| 4 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt McGuire, J.J. Sgt Mani, J. |
6 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. [No Sortie Returned Early as Briefed] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 87 -- June 29, 1944, Thursday PM
St. Hilaire to Vitre, France -- Railroad
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Dropping down to 3,000 feet for the first time since the 15th, Major Willetts and Captain Hulse led two boxes in an attack on targets on the railroad from St. Hilaire to Vitre. Bombing in flights of sixes, there were six separate targets. The bridge at St. Hilaire received direct hits and near misses with probable destruction or severe damage resulting. Hits were scored on a highway and on a 9-span bridge, possibly breaching the bridge or causing severe damage to it. One aircraft was hit by enemy fire at St. Lo and was seen to crash northeast of that city. The pilot was Flight Officer Bruce E. Baxter. His two gunners were Sgt. R.L. Ernstrom and Sgt. H.A. Potter. One chute was seen to emerge from the falling plane. All are listed as "Missing in Action." It had been F/O Baxter's first operational mission.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 102
Mission #87 - 29 June - St. Hillaire-Vitre Railroad Junction. - Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN led this mission. Lts. Shaefer and Burg, BN led Box II. Lts. Cole and Beck, BN and Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led flights. Each box of six flights had separate targets to zero in on, with excellent results. The ack-ack gunners cut their fuses and aimed for one particular box and that contained a first mission pilot, F/O Baxter, who had with him gunners Enstrom and Potter, both on their second mission. Flak burst amid ships, bursting in flame. No one saw chutes open, although Potter did turn up as an escapee from a POW camp. Engstrom and Baxter were not accounted for. Other heavy damage occurred to Lts. Shaefer and Downing, both of whom had to return to the English coast with forced landings. Captain Conant's plane was severely damaged, but he managed to coax it back to base.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 29 June, Flight Officer Bruce E. Baxter, T-2090 and his gunners, Sergeant Reed L. Ernstrom, 19 171 760, and Sergeant Harold A. Potter, 16 119 390, were reported Missing in Action after a mission against St. Hilaire - Vitre Railroad. All recent arrivals in the combat zone, Flight Officer Baxter was on his first mission, while both gunners were flying their second.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Rainy weather grounded the planes again on the 26th, 27th and
28th. On the 28th the squadron gained two more pilots, 2nd Lts
Barausky and Sparling, giving us a total of 26 pilots.
Flying was resumed on June 29th when 12 of our crews participated
in a late evening attack on the railroad between St Hilaire and Vitre.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
June 26th û July 6th , 1944
Typical English weather, complete with clouds, rain and mist, confined the 416th Bomb Group to just five missions during this period. Formations went over France once on the 29th of June, the 30th of June and the 4th of July; and finally twice on July 6th . The two June missions were cake runs, but the ships ran into a little trouble in the last three. On July 4th Captain Jackman of the 670th Squadron made a single engine hop back across the channel. He was carrying a cameraman from the 4th Combat Camera Unit assigned to this Group, and, upon reaching England, Captain Jackman ordered the man to jump, which he did. However, for some reason which will never be known, the chute fail to open until it reached the ground, enough said.
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[June 29, 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 29, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |
"The 9th Air Force in World War Two"
Kenn Rust
Page 89
