416th BG Mission 143

Mission # 143 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday PM
Chaligny, France -- Artillery Position

Box I -- Flight I
1 671st 43-22065 5C-E A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Davis, H.R.	2 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. Sgt Connery, T.F. Sgt Barry, R.M. [Returned Early]	3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. S/Sgt Ashton, L.A.
4 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P.	5 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Eastman, D.M. Cpl Johnson, R.J. Cpl Eaton, A.B.	6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Gary, J.C. Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. Sgt Schoen, A.E., Jr.

Box I -- Flight II
1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Citty, F.M.	2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Abriola, D.R. Cpl Fair, V.F.	3 669th 43-21821 2A-Z A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Mani, J. Sgt McGuire, J.J.
4 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. Cpl Tranchina, C.E. Cpl West, N.D.	5 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E.	6 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Blomgren, J.E. Sgt Fleming, L.R. S/Sgt Bookach, M.

Box I -- Flight III
1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Lt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E.	2 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C.	3 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. Cpl Moskowitz, L.
4 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Sgt Getgen, L.R. Sgt Veazey, C.W.	5 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C.	6 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Miller, E.L. Cpl Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M.

Box I
SPARE 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Sittarich, J.J. Sgt Metzler, L.V.

Box II -- Flight I
1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Wheeler, R.V. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L.	2 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H.	3 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E.
4 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J.	5 671st 43-9925 5C-G A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Cpl Steffey, R.I. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr.	6 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O.

Box II -- Flight II
1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W.	2 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. Cpl Friday, L.R. Cpl Collier, J.L.	3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Musgrove, W. Sgt Seighman, H.O. Sgt Licker, M.
4 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J.	5 670th 43-9905 F6-K A-20G Lt Popeney, H.V. Sgt Arnett, W.E. Sgt Candler, H.C.S.	6 670th 43-9720 F6-F A-20G Lt Warren, J.R. Sgt Stroup, C.C., Jr. Sgt Turpin, S.J.

Box II -- Flight III
1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. Sgt Roberts, J.H. Sgt Naifeh, F.	2 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M.	3 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L.
4 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F.	5 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P.	6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W.

Box II
SPARE 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Turner, E.O. Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. Sgt Belcas, J.O. [Returned Early as Briefed]

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 143 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday PM
Chaligny, France -- Artillery Position

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

The mission that afternoon featured the best bombing ever done by this Group--bombing that would be the pride of any Group. Major Willetts, Lt Royalty, B-N, and Captain Wheeler, Lt Arrington, B-N, were the two successful box leaders. Hidden in the Foret De Haye at Chaligny were German artillery positions. Each of the six flights laid their bombs squarely on the M.P.I's for six excellents. Extremely high columns of smoke and numerous small flashing explosions indicated that considerable damage was inflicted. Within a couple of days, this statement appeared in the G.L.O. news summary: "Ground units report the bombing of the 9th Bombardment Division on the Foret de Haye on 12 September was so effective the Germans in the area marched out with their hands in the air and surrendered. American ground troops had to fire practically no shots to affect the surrender." Our six excellents helped to do the trick.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 144 - 145

Mission #143 - 12 September - PM - Foret de Haye, West of Nancy. General George Patton was halted for a short time in his drive to Germany, and he called on some precision bombing by Attack Bombers to clear his path. Ninth Bomber Command called on the 416th and three B-26 groups to hit this German Artillery position. At 1550, our group took off after a short respite from the morning mission. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN led Box I and for the first time, Captain Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, BN were to lead the second Box. Captains Morton, and Peck, BN and Lt. Meagher and Lt. Burg, BN, led flights. Can you call this a perfect mission, or what, when six flights each score an "Excellent"? It appeared so, since a statement from GHQ news summary printed, "Ground units report the bombing of the 9th Bombardment Division on the Foret de Haye on 12 September was so effective that Germans in the area marched out with their hands in the air and surrendered, American ground troops had to fire practically no shots to effect the surrender." Quite a success!

An interesting sidelight occurred on this mission. Captain Wheeler, leading the second box, lost communication with his bombardier, Lt. Arrington. Arrington could talk to Wheeler, but Wheeler couldn't respond. They managed to understand each other by having Arrington talk, or ask questions, and Wheeler would blink the call light, with one blink meaning yes, and two blinks meaning no. With this innovative manner, they reached the Initial Point of the bomb run, dropped their bombs, with satisfactory results, and got back to base with no further problem. Hollywood?!?

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

The first time we or any Ninth Air Force bombers ever attacked targets in Germany was on the 12th when the 416th hit St. Wendel in Germany. Weather was very bad. Lt. Greene, Lt. Nichols, B-N, managed to drop, hitting a marshalling yard at Ottweiler, just south of the target.

That afternoon, Capt. Morton and Capt Peck were flight leaders on the most nearly perfect mission flown by the Group. All six flights scored "excellent". The target was an artillery position at Chaligny in the Foret de Haye. A statement from a G.L.O. news summary read, "Ground units report the bombing of the 9th Bombardment Division on the Foret de Haye on 12 September was so effective the Germans in the area marched out with their hands in the air ans [and] surrendered. American ground troops had to fire practically no shots to effect the surrender."

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Two missions were flown on September 12th, the morning mission being an attack against artillery emplacements and observation posts in the Foret De Haye. Six excellent ratings were given our Group, the only excellent ratings given of the four groups of bombers attacking the target. Eleven of our crews took part in this raid. Six more crews participated in an afternoon attack on the St Wendel Marshalling Yards.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

September 12th, 1944

Afternoon Mission

General Patton ordered Bomber Command to bomb the Foret of Haye just west of Nancy, again. Patton's forces were being held up temporarily there on the drive to the German border. In turn Ninth Bomber called on the 416th Bomb Group and three Marauder groups. It was a mission picked for the Havocs and they came through with six excellents on artillery positions and observation posts. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty led the first box over the target area, and Captain Wheeler and Lt. Arrington took the second box over.

This was the first time this pair had led a box and the boys had quite a time. The way they found and bombed the target was something you might see in a movie, but not in real warfare. The radio was out and Captain Wheeler did not have any communications with his bombardier, with the exception of the call light in the Bombardier's compartment. Lt. Arrington was able to talk to his pilot over the interphone and Wheeler would answer by blinking the light once for yes and twice for no. When Captain Wheeler had a question to ask, he would blink the light several times and Arrington would ask questions until he hit the right one. With this brilliant bit of teamwork, Wheeler and Arrington led their flight to the target and layed down a perfect pattern on the DMPI, causing damaging results. Lt. Arrington reported hitting an ammunition dump in this area and he said smoke and flames shot up to actual bombing altitude.

"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

When Brest was captured targets in France were very limited. The Third Army which had raced through France was now meeting stiffer resistance and was soon calling for air support in the Metz-Nancy Sector. This was also at extreme range but several targets were attacked by the Group in that area. One of these missions, the attack of Foret De Haye near Nancy, proved to be the best job of bombing done by the Group. Eleven crews of the 671st Bomb Squadron (L) participated in this flight with Major Willetts leading the first box and Captain Wheeler leading the second box, his first mission as a box leader. When the mission was complete and the photos developed it was found that all six flights had scored excellent hits on the target causing terrific explosions with smoke coming almost as high as the formation. The complete success of the mission as more surprising when Captain Wheeler and Lieutenant Arrington revealed that they had flown the entire route and dropped their bombs without interphone communications. The same day, 12 September, the Group with six crews from the 671st Squadron attacked the first target in Germany assigned to any IX Bomber Command unit when they bombed the Marshalling Yards at St. Wendell.