 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 94 -- July 8, 1944, Saturday AM Caen, France Strong Point, Road Junction and Highway
|
 |
Previous Mission # 93 Mission List Next Mission # 95 Return to Table of Contents
|
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 94 -- July 8, 1944, Saturday AM Caen, France Strong Point, Road Junction and Highway
|
|
Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 32 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Tactical Target Dossier: 4901W/65 and 60 Illustration : 1 - 4901W/65, 2 - 4901W/66, 3 - 4901W/60 Illustration Ref : 074025, 010070, 045079 Summary of Results : Bombing results by flight ranged from Fair to Excellent. Three ships dropped Window. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.19160,-0.38953 (49° 11' 30" N, 0° 23' 22" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vU013693) (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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 1944 Saturday |
No_Report | 43-9951 A-20G |
94 | 671 | Ames, William H. (WIA)
Fessler, Herman S. (Not Injured) Brown, Robert J. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 94 -- July 8, 1944, Saturday AM
Caen, France -- Strong Point, Road Junction and Highway
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
2 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
3 668th 43-9935 5H-F A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. |
| 4 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. Sgt Newell, S.P. Sgt Wright, R.E. |
5 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Giesy, S.H., Jr. Sgt Cherry, F.E. |
6 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
2 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
3 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
| 4 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
5 670th 43-21759 F6-G A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
6 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Calkins, C.R. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Clark, R.A. Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. Pvt Moskowitz, L. |
3 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Maj Napier, J.G. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| 4 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
5 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Penttila, W.L. Sgt Dugan, J.D., Jr. Sgt Curtis, L.B. |
6 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. S/Sgt Young, C.E. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. [No Sortie] |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. |
2 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
3 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
| 4 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
6 668th 43-9975 5H-W A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Love, C.F. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
2 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Pair, H.F. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
| 1 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Beck, J.T. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
3 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. |
| 4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. [No Sortie] |
| 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 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
3 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Ashton, L.A. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 94 -- July 8, 1944, Saturday AM
Caen, France -- Strong Point, Road Junction and Highway
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Going out for the fifth consecutive day, 39 aircraft took off to destroy strong points in Caen as ground support targets. The results were excellent, and soon it was announced over the radio that General Montgomery's troops had moved in to take that same area. The boxes were led by Lt Osborne and Major Price, and bombing was by flights of sixes. That afternoon, the scene of our activities shifted to Rennes to hit a fuel dump. The target was again obscured by clouds so that a target of opportunity was chosen---it was a road and railroad intersection north of Combourg. The results ranged from good to excellent, cutting the road, railway, and highway overpass. Captain Jackson and Major Meng led the two boxes, although bombing was by flights of sixes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 108
Mission #94 - 8 July - AM - Caen Strong Point - Lts. Osborne and Forma, BN were in front of Box I with Major Price and Lt. Hand, on Box II. Lts. Cole and Basnet, BN and Lts. Marzolf and Beck, BN led flights. This target was important since it was in direct support of ground troops. Bombing results were scored excellent. Little flak didn't bother the group, and air cover by "little friends" kept the formation safe.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were again flown on July 8th, seven of our combat crews participating in a morning mission against the German held city of Caen; and in the afternoon fourteen crews were part of the group attacking the Rennes fuel railhead. Both attacks were rated excellent.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
July 7th û July 16th , 1944
During the period from the Seventh of July through the 16th of July, the Group ran only six missions. The main reason for the slackening up has been the bad weather. The missions which were run were led by B-26 Pathfinders and the "bomb through cloud" technique was put into use. Many times during this period the crews went out to the ships, but were called back when the mission was delayed and then usually scrubbed. However, every now and then the group was able to sneak in a mission before it could be called off. That alone accounts for the six sorties in the last ten days... rather six missions.
No planes were downed by enemy action during this time and no crews were injured by flak. Quite a bit of flak was met on a few missions and some of the planes were shot up, although none serious.
Odds and Ends
On July 8th , 1944 Lt. Pair went on his third mission, the first in nearly three months. Lt. Ames and Lt. Withington are now regularly seen on the loading lists. These two pilots joined the Squadron a short time ago and have been doing pretty well for the length of time, with the Group S.O.P.s that each has had to contend with. Lt. Lackovich, a recent addition, is sweating out his first mission and is scheduled to go on the morning mission of July 18th ... after having completed a refresher transition course as put forth by Group Operations.
Just recently all of the older pilots -those who have been with the Squadron prior to coming overseas -have completed, or are preparing to do so their seven day operational leave. The regular 48-hour passes are still in affect. London has not been a very favorable spot to vacation lately as the Jerries have been putting up quite a few flying bombs. The boys complain about lack of sleep, although it is believed that there is a more underlying train of thought behind this lack of sleep excuse.
|
[July 8, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, July 8, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |