416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 52 -- May 22, 1944, Monday PM Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France Airdrome (S.1630)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 33 A-20G's, 5 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 380 Illustration   : S 1630/4 Illustration Ref : 032103, 021098 - 1 Box Each Summary of Results : Thirteen aircraft became separated from formation during ascent through overcast and one ship returned early because of flutter in elevator. Remaining 24 ships formed one box and proceeded on to target. Dropped with Excellent results. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.10977,2.02386 (49° 6' 35" N, 2° 1' 26" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo) (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 # 52 -- May 22, 1944, Monday PM
Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France -- Airdrome (S.1630)
1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
3 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. |
4 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Harrold, F.J., Jr. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
5 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. Sgt Blackford, D.S. |
6 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. [No Sortie] |
1 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L. |
2 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. |
3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
4 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
5 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. Sgt Ashton, L.A. [No Sortie] |
1 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt DeMand, F.W. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. Sgt Troyer, R.J. |
2 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
4 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
5 671st 43-10164 5C-I A-20G Lt Radetsky, H.A. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. [No Sortie] |
6 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Wipperman, R.A. S/Sgt Ahrens, H.S. Sgt Mazza, L.C. |
SPARE 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. Sgt Paules, E.F. [No Sortie] |
1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. [No Sortie] |
2 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Capt Prentiss, R.B. Lt Lytle, W.M. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. [No Sortie] |
3 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. Sgt Johnson, J.L. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. [No Sortie] |
5 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. S/Sgt Binney, I. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. Sgt Martinez, L. |
1 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. |
3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
4 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. |
5 668th 43-10203 5H-R A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
6 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Thompson, J.B. S/Sgt Hatch, H.F. [No Sortie] |
2 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. [No Sortie] |
3 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. [No Sortie] |
4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Radlich, N. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. [No Sortie] |
5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. [No Sortie] |
6 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. [No Sortie] |
SPARE 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Hewes, H.E., Jr. S/Sgt Kasper, J.F. S/Sgt Boyer, H.E. [No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 52 -- May 22, 1944, Monday PM
Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France -- Airdrome (S.1630)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Two days later 38 planes took off to attack the same target. Thirteen of the aircraft became separated from the formation during the ascent through the overcast and returned early. The two boxes were originally led by Major Meng and Captain Jackson. The planes that were able to locate it caught onto Major Meng's box and went on to bomb the target. Again excellent results were achieved with hits on one large hanger, three blast shelters, and five unidentifiable buildings.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 78 - 79
Mission #52 - 22 May - Carmeille-eu-Vixen. This was a three box formation with Major Meng and Lt. Powell BN, on the first Box, Captain Jackson and Lt. Maltby BN on Box II and Captain Huff and Lt. Kupits BN, leading Box III. The formation took off and ten minutes from take-off they ran into a solid mass of clouds, requiring a climb through the mess. The group had a pol- icy on "Ascent Through Clouds" and this was it. Going up thousands of feet demanded the expertise of instrument flying while remaining somewhat in formation. One box - the third box - became lost and returned to base. That left 24 planes to go to the target. On Popping out of the top of the cloud bank, one may be reminded of watching a pot of porridge on a hot stove, with pops of air jumping out the top of the porridge, so it is with planes coming out of a thick cloud cover. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte BN, and Captain Prentiss and Lt. Lytle, BN led flights. Excellent bombing was reported. Enemy fighters threatened the formation but our trusted "little friends" shooed them away. The long climb through the cloud bank, a five minute bomb run, and the distance of the target from the base, made fuel dangerously low. Two A-20s from another group were seen in the area, one afire, and the other making its way across the channel, splash-crashed in. Two boxes of B-26s had bombed the same tarset as did the 416th. with excellent results, also.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Again on the 22nd the Cormeilles-en-Vixen airdrome was the target.
Major Meng led the mission with eight of our crews participating.
46,000 pounds of bombs were dropped on this airdrome and excellent
results were achieved.
Capt Moore and Lt Geffinger took a representation of the squadron
to the American Military Cemetery in Cambridge to attend the burial of
S/Sgts Conopask and Walsh. In a simple but impressive military
ceremony, tribute was paid to the members of our squadron who had died
in combat.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Major Meng of the 670th Squadron was to lead two boxes of eighteen ships into enemy territory to attack the airdrome, Cormeille En Vexin, and its north dispersal area, the MPI being a hanger in that area.
However, after take-off and about ten minutes from the base the formation ran into some heavy cumulous clouds of frontal structure. Evidently this front was supposed to be weaker than it actually was. At any rate, the formation put into use the greatly abused "ascent through the overcast" policy of the Group and at least twenty-four of the aircraft originally dispatched got on top and proceeded on course. The rest of the trip was quite uneventful although everyone "sweat-out" the bomb run which was almost five minutes long. However, no flak came close to the formation and all twenty-four aircraft returned safely, but a little low on gas.
Two aircraft, believed to have been from one of the other A-20 Groups, were lost on the afternoon mission. One was seen burning and later exploded on crashing west of Rouen; the other made its way out of the French coast and part way across the channel, but evidently some of the light flak received on the entry had found its mark, and the aircraft never reached England.
Bombing results for this Group, which hit the target just after two boxes of B-26's struck blows, was classed as excellent with at least three direct hits on the Aiming Point.