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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 18 -- April 13, 1944, Thursday PM Le Havre, France Coastal Installation
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 18 -- April 13, 1944, Thursday PM Le Havre, France Coastal Installation
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 6 Total -- 6 A-20G's Tactical Target Dossier: 4900/H/3 Summary of Results : Special Mission - WINDOW. Two flights, 3 ships each, participated on missions with 323 and 387 Bomb Groups. One of the 3 ships dropping window for the 323 BG was abortive. Window was not ready to be dropped. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.51700,0.06828 (49° 31' 1" N, 0° 4' 6" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to La batterie de Dollemard) (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 # 18 -- April 13, 1944, Thursday PM
Le Havre, France -- Coastal Installation
| 1 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Capt Jackson, C.R. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. [[Unreadable note]] |
2 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
3 670th 43-9696 F6-G A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Falk, F.G. |
| 1 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. |
2 669th 43-9226 2A-E A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
3 671st 43-9203 5C-A A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
| 1 671st 43-9724 5C-W A-20G Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. |
2 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 18 -- April 13, 1944, Thursday PM
Le Havre, France -- Coastal Installation
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the following day two more NOBALL targets in the Pas de Calais area were attacked simultaneously. Although the results were unobserved, at the time, reconnaissance showed a fair to good result. The 37 aircraft flying in two boxes were led by Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty, B/N, and Major Meng, with Lt. Powell, B/N. Again nine of our Aircraft supported three Marauder Groups in LeHavre attacks, dropping window.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 50 - 51
Mission #17 and, 18 - 13 April - Yvrench Bois Carre and
Petite Bois Tillencourt Noball sites. Major Willetts and Lt.
Royalty, BN and Major Meng and Lt. Powell, BN led boxes.
Here again, the two boxes split up near the target sites and individually
bombed separate targets with good results. Lts. Platter
and Jedinak participated. Window dropping planes were led by
Lts. Osborne, Meagher and Lesher. Moderate flak caused some
damage to ships, but all returned to base safely. Bombing results
were rated excellent and good.
Usual lousy weather kept all planes grounded. On 16
April, the anticipation of preparation for movements came to
reality with an order came down, requiring a practice move to
take place. Eager and quick packing and boxing up of documents
took place and on the lTth at 0900 every squadron was ready to
go. Trucks, loaded with gear, and personnel all packed with personal
gear, lined up and the early echolon left the base. The second
echelon left at 1000, all in an orderly manner, prepared for
possible enemy action on the way. Things went pretty smoothly,
included a "pit" stop after two hours, and all of a sudden the
commanders realized no one made arrangements for chow. One
of the most demoralizing situations for GIs is to not fortify their
energy with good food. The usual K rations were issued, but not
appreciated as much as a chow line feed.
Both echelons returned to base at 1430 and 1530 for the
second group. In all, it showed that preparations for quick moves
and actual movements. could be made when the time comes.
April Showers
April showers kept planes grounded , but not to cause too
much leisure to our group, orders came down to the squadrons as
reported by Lowell Geffinger, Adjutant of the 670th Squadron.
He reported:
A group mobility exercise was held on April 17 to
practice for possible future moves. The Field Order
was received on April 16th and there followed a
great deal of activity preparing for the move the following
morning. All equipment was packed and
loaded on trucks. Personnel were equipped and
armed, and everything was ready to move by 0900
on the 17th. The advance echelon commanded by
Captain Sheridan departed at 1000. The second echelon
commanded by Lt. Geffinger departed at 1100.
Both echelons followed a prepared route, and ready
to act against any enemy attack., The advanced echelon
returned to base at 1430 and the rear at 1540.
Much was learned from this practice move which
would be of help in any future move that might
come about., A few minor delays along the route
were encountered, possibly caused by insufficient
briefing before the trip and also possibly inexperience.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Today's target was another double "No-Ball", each box in the formation taking a different target. Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty as bombardier-navigator led the show. It was another successful mission, and the 416th Bomb Group was beginning to get "hot". Moderate flak was reported, but no fighters encountered.