9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 52 -- May 22, 1944, Monday PM

Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France

Airdrome (S.1630)

 

WWII-Medal

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Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 46-323
OpRep #            : 52
Nature of Mission  : Bombing
Mission Status     : Attacked
Bombing Altitude   : 11,500 feet
Take-off Time      : 1825
Time Over Target   : 2012
Landing Time       : 2144
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 3:19
 

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)


Scanned original Mission 52 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder       Reports Folder       OpRep # 52       Fuel Use

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.




Loading List 1

Loading List 1, Box I


Loading List 2

Loading List 2, Box II
Thirteen aircraft became separated from the formation during ascent through overcast;
one aircraft also returned early because of mechanical problem.
The remaining 24 aircraft formed one box and proceeded to target.



Route Map

Route Map


Target Topo Map

Approximate area of Cormeilles-en-Vexin Aerodrome, Later Station A-59
Extracted from GSGS-4336/AMS-M603 Sheet 18 - "Beauvais" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - Army Map Service Topographic Map Series,
Belgium, Series 2364, 1:100,000, U.S. Army Map Service, 1937,
Beauvais sheet)

(Annotated Full Map PDF)


Bomb Run Photo

Airdrome near Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France


Bomb Run Google Overlay

Bomb Run Photo overlaid on current Google Earth display
(Overlay by Wayne Sayles)



Mission Loading Lists Transcription

Mission # 52 -- May 22, 1944, Monday PM
Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France -- Airdrome (S.1630)

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Box I -- Flight I
  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]
 

Box I -- Flight II
  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]
 

Box I -- Flight III
  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.
 

Box I
  SPARE  670th               
  43-9200  F6-A  A-20G
  Lt Sewell, J.C.
  S/Sgt Glynn, P.F.
  Sgt Paules, E.F.
  [No Sortie]
 
                                                           


Box II -- Flight I
  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.
 

Box II -- Flight II
  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.
 

Box II -- Flight III
  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]
 

Box II
  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.


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