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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 119 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday AM Bois Du Pierre, France Radar Installation
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 119 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday AM Bois Du Pierre, France Radar Installation
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 29 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Illustration : 1/50,000 MAP. SHEET 7G.4 Illustration Ref : Z-30059809, Z-30059791 - 3 Flights Each Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Three flights scored Excellent, remaining Good, Fair and Gross. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.55938,0.03395 (48° 33' 34" N, 0° 2' 2" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vZ300980) (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 # 119 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday AM
Bois Du Pierre, France -- Radar Installation
| 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 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
5 671st 43-10214 5C-C 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 Gary, J.C. Sgt Schoen, A.E., Jr. Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. Sgt Burland, A.J. Sgt Heath, K. |
2 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. Pvt Moskowitz, L. |
3 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
| 4 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
6 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
2 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. Sgt Wiggins, H.G. |
3 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L. |
| 4 670th 43-22058 F6-C A-20J Lt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
5 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. Sgt Hinson, A.H. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. Sgt Dias, M.E. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
| 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 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. Sgt Barry, R.M. Sgt Connery, T.F. |
3 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Ashton, L.A. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
5 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
| 4 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
5 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
6 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. |
2 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Clausen, T. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. Sgt Galloway, A.F. |
| 4 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
5 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Geyer, J.F. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. Sgt Hummer, J.A. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 119 -- August 9, 1944, Wednesday AM
Bois Du Pierre, France -- Radar Installation
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
As a result our target on the morning of the 9th was the same radar installation. The results ranged from fair to excellent with some bombs believed to have fallen directly on the desired MPI. Major Willetts, Lt. Royalty, B-N, and Captain Marzolf, Lt. Beck, B-N, led the boxes. Lt. Hiram Clark was forced to land at Ridgewell when one engine, hit by flak, failed on the return trip.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 129
Mission #119 - 9 August - AM - Bois De Pierre Chateau
Radar. Evidently the previous day's bombing was not sufficient
to exterminate this installation. Major Willetts, and Lt. Royalty,
BN. Lts. Marzolf and Beck, BN, Captain McNulty and Burseil,
BN, and Lts. Meagher and Burg, BN, and Captain Hulse and Lt.
Conte, BN led flights. Bombing results were scored excellent
again, with about 50 craters all around the building. One string
of bombs stretched from in front of the chateau and continued on
right past it, for excellent results. Some flak was experienced.
New pilots were added to the 670th, being Lt. Harry
Popeney and F/O Elizabeth O. Turner on 9 August.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
As a result, our target on the morning of the 9th was the same radar installation. Capt. Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N, led a flight with good results. Some bombs were believed to have fallen directly on the desired MPI. Lt. Hiram Clark was forced to land at Ridgewell when one engine, hit by flak, failed on the return trip.
Leading the second and third flights of the second box that afternoon, Capt. Huff and Capt. Hulse helped blast the Chauny railroad bridge, making it unserviceable.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Bois de Pierre Chateau Radar installations were again attacked on two separate missions on August 9th. A total of fifteen crews from this squadron took part in the day's attacks. Lt Harry Popeney and F/O Elizabeth O. Turner joined the organization this date bringing the squadron total to 31 pilots. The Stars and Stripes of this date carried an article about the experiences on a mission of one of our crews, Lt Brown and S/Sgts White and Addleman.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
August 9th, 1944
The 416th kept up their fast pace with two more missions on August 9th . In the morning the formation went back to hit the radar installation at Prieure du Gast, which they attacked the evening previous with fair results. More bombs were dropped in the target area, but no extensive damage to the install¡ations appeared, although approximately fifty craters are visible with the cleared area. Flak was experienced, causing damage to eight Group ships.
In the evening the target was a railroad bridge at Chauny over the Canal de St. Quentin, 20 miles northeast of Compiegne. The second box hit the bridge with good results, but the first box went on its own. The first flight, through misidentification of the target, attacked a highway bridge at Apilly, 5 miles southwest of the primary. Bombs fell across canal 9 of the town, with a near miss to canal bridge. The second flight dropped their bombs on edge of the Marshalling Yards at Arras, 50 miles northwest of the primary. This was mistaken for the secondary. The third flight followed the first flight over Apilly and results were the same. Flak was sparse and all the ships returned without damage.
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[August 9, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, August 9, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |
See the Journal of Field Archaeology article
Second World War bomb craters and the archaeology of Allied air attacks
in the forests of the Normandie-Maine National Park, NW France
by David Capps Tunwell, David G. Passmore & Stephan Harrison