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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 38 -- May 7, 1944, Sunday PM Behen, France NOBALL (XI/A/59)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 38 -- May 7, 1944, Sunday PM Behen, France NOBALL (XI/A/59)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 42 Total -- 36 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 3114 Illustration : A/59/3 Illustration Ref : 032032 Summary of Results : Bombing was impossible due to clouds directly over target. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.06111,1.75222 (50° 3' 40" N, 1° 45' 8" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on V1 Sites, BEHEN) (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 # 38 -- May 7, 1944, Sunday PM
Behen, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/59)
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Campbell, M.W. Lt Palin, W.H. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. |
2 671st 43-10129 5C-I A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
| 4 669th 43-9211 2A-C A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
6 669th 43-9679 2A-R A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. |
| 1 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
2 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
| 4 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. Sgt Zeikus, A.J. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. |
| 1 668th 43-9182 5H-B A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. |
| 2 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
| 3 668th 43-9360 5H-S A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. |
4 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Crispino, J.C. S/Sgt Walsh, T.I., Jr. S/Sgt Conopask, R.E. |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Capt Clark, R.A. Lt Jones, C.W. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. |
2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Maj Radetsky, H.A. Lt Pape, M.A. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. |
3 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
| 4 668th 43-9223 5H-F A-20G Capt Prentiss, R.B. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
5 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
6 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Molver, V.E. S/Sgt Gray, C.M. |
| 1 671st 43-9225 5C-G A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
3 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
| 1 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Marzolf, L.A. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
2 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Durante, A.R. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
3 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
| 4 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Lt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
2 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
3 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
| 4 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. |
2 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Ritchie, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
3 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Shaw, L.R. S/Sgt Bankston, R., Jr. |
| 4 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
| 1 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. |
2 668th 43-9893 5H-P A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
3 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Bradford, B.H. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 38 -- May 7, 1944, Sunday PM
Behen, France -- NOBALL (XI/A/59)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Four days of bad weather intervened before we were able to get off again. On the seventh, Blanc Misseron was chosen to be our target for the third straight time. Weather interfered, though, and the mission was aborted. In the afternoon, another mission took off to bomb a Noball target at Behan. Weather again caused it to be aborted. Eleven planes received battle damage.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 70 - 71
Mission #38 - 7 May - PM - Behen Noball. The weather did not
improve this afternoon since the target was protected by cloud
cover. However, the ack-ack gunners knew where the formation
was and they did considerable damage. All ships received flak of
some size or another. Lt. Wysocki reports that:
A large piece of flak, followed by smaller pieces,
hit Lt. Ritchie's plane amid-ships, and raised quite
some havoc (no pun intended). A piece of steel,
wedged between Hibbs (gunner) and his tunnel gun,
setting off a few rounds. Had it been a few inches
closer, it would have seriously injured him. Upon
landing, the ship was in such bad shape, that it had
to be sent to the 4th Service Group for battle damage.
No one suffered any injuries, but all suffered
moments of anxiety.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
After five days of inactivity due to unfavorable weather our combat activities were resumed. On 7 May the Blanc Misseron marshalling yards and the Behen Noball sites were attacked. However, because of bad weather over the target, no bombs were dropped. Twenty one crews took part in these two missions.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
After a four day recess the 416th Bomb Group reached a new bombing high, crossing the English Channel 11 times from May 7th thru May 13th to smash enemy installations in France and Belgium. The Havocs were out in force twice on the 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12th of May, while just once on the 13th. No mission was flown on May 10th because of poor weather.
Marshalling Yards, Airdromes and "No-Balls" were hit in the weeks operations which culminated in a great loss to the 671st Bomb Squadron.