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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 53 -- May 24, 1944, Wednesday AM Beaumont Le Roger, France Airdrome (S.5410)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 53 -- May 24, 1944, Wednesday AM Beaumont Le Roger, France Airdrome (S.5410)
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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 460 Illustration : S 5410/4 Illustration Ref : 029040 Summary of Results : Both boxes scored Poor. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.08978,0.76365 (49° 5' 23" N, 0° 45' 49" 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 # 53 -- May 24, 1944, Wednesday AM
Beaumont Le Roger, France -- Airdrome (S.5410)
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. T/Sgt Larronde, F.H. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. |
2 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
| 4 669th 43-9214 2A-C A-20G Lt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Corrin, E.W. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
5 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 1 671st 43-9714 5C-N 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 Brown, K.P. |
3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Col Aylesworth, T.R. S/Sgt Kelly, E.E. S/Sgt Coe, W.H. |
6 671st 43-10164 5C-I A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. Sgt Ashton, L.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. Cpl McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. Sgt Blackford, D.S. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
| 4 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
6 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Conant, H.F. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. Sgt Scott, G.W. |
2 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
3 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Meagher, J.F. Sgt Hantske, D. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
5 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
6 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
| 1 668th 43-10203 5H-R A-20G Lt Siracusa, L.J. S/Sgt Brown, F.E. S/Sgt Hume, J.N. |
2 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
3 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. Sgt Smith, H.W. |
| 4 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
5 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Poindexter, R.D. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. |
6 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Perkins, H., Jr. Sgt Newell, S.P. |
| 1 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
2 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
3 669th 43-9983 2A-J A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
| 4 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. Sgt Rice, R.W. Sgt Young, C.E. |
6 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. Sgt Vafiadis, C. Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 53 -- May 24, 1944, Wednesday AM
Beaumont Le Roger, France -- Airdrome (S.5410)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Two missions were sent out on the 24th to attack the airfields at Beaumont le Roger and Abbeville-Drucat. The first formation led by Major Willetts and Captain Conant had poor results. The second formation, however, caused much destruction to the hangers and blast shelters of what used to be the home of the "Abbeville Kids", the crack Me 109 fighter outfit. The boxes were led by Major Price, Captain Clark, and Lt Osborne.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 79
Mission #53 - 24 May - AM - Beaumont le Roger Airfield near Paris. - (a long distance from base) - led by Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN with Captain Conant and Lt. McBrien, BN in the second box. Bombing results were not reported to be very good. The first box dropped 600 feet short and the second box dropped 2000 feet short. Lt. Marzolf and Lt. Basnett, BN, Captain Hulse with Lt. Conte, BN, led flights. Captain McNulty and Lt. Burseil flew as deputy to take over in the event the leader was not able to continue. Coming off the target, the formation had to descend through a heavy cloud layer at speeds reported to be 300 feet per minute descent, which assimilates fighter tactics or dive bombers. Scary! The experience while exhilarating, came out successfully, with no problems.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
From May 23rd to May 30th, the squadron flew a total of ninety-eight
sorties on missions to attack the Beaumont-LeRoger airdrome; the
Abbeville-Drucat airdrome; the Monchy-Breton airdrome; the Beauvais-
Tille airdrome; the Amiens marshalling yards; the Bruges-St Michiel
Naval Radar Direction Finder Station in Belgium; the Vacqueriette
Noball site; the Behen Noball site; the Achiet airdrome and the
Denain-Prouby airdrome.
Lt Crispino was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries
sustained on the 19th, and Sgt Zaklikiewicz for wounds sustained on
May 26th.
The Stars and Strips carried an article on May 24th, which
concerned the group. In the story about veteran gunners of other
campaigns of this war, S/Sgt Riley and S/Sgt Kidd of our unit,
received credit due them for previous operational experience. (See
Exhibit # 19 attached.)
Lt Maltby received his promotion to 1st Lt on May 22nd.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Major Willets lead the Group formation into another airdrome, this time west of Paris, on the morning of May 24th , 1944. No flak was encountered and the trip was uneventful with one exception û a 3,000 foot per minute descent through scattered clouds upon return to the base. However, this was done with the minimum of chaos and all planes landed safely.
Bomb results were not to good. Lt. Royalty dropped 600 feet short of the A.P. and the second box 2,000 feet short.
In the afternoon Major Price led three boxes of 14 aircraft to the Abbeville-Ducat airdrome. All ships but the last box carried "window" to drop over the areas, which were reported to have heavy flak barrage. In addition three ships went ahead of the formation and dropped window. However, for some unexplainable reason, flak was not encountered during the complete mission û much to the surprise of everyone. Bombing results were fair to good as only two of the boxes hit the A.P.