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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 55 -- May 25, 1944, Thursday AM Monchy Breton, France Airfield (S.5680)
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 55 -- May 25, 1944, Thursday AM Monchy Breton, France Airfield (S.5680)
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 31 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Target Operational Number: Z 730 Summary of Results : Box 1 - Premature release by pilot under mistaken impression that bombardier-navigator had bombed. Bombs dropped in open fields and across highway 4 to 5 miles east of target. Box 2 - Excellent Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.39589,2.43115 (50° 23' 45" N, 2° 25' 52" 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 # 55 -- May 25, 1944, Thursday AM
Monchy Breton, France -- Airfield (S.5680)
| 1 671st 43-9914 5C-X A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 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. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 4 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
5 670th 43-9200 F6-A A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. |
6 670th 43-9227 F6-F A-20G Lt Nordstrom, A.W. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
| 1 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. |
2 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.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 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. Sgt Schrom, R.G. Sgt Galender, J.W. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. Sgt Ashton, L.A. |
| 1 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
2 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Ballinger, R.L. S/Sgt Alden, S.F. |
3 669th 43-10148 2A-H A-20G Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
| 4 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt Kelly, W.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, W.G. |
5 669th 43-10206 2A-F A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
6 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. S/Sgt Young, C.E. [No Sortie] |
| SPARE 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 Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
2 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Smith, W.L. Sgt Larsen, H.W. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
3 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
5 670th 43-10157 F6-P A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
6 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Paules, E.F. 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 43-10203 5H-R A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Scott, G.W. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
3 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. Sgt Newell, S.P. |
| 4 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. |
5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
6 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Antanaitis, A.J. |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
2 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. S/Sgt Coffey, G.L. S/Sgt Cope, G.F. |
| 4 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
5 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. Sgt Vafiadis, C. Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
6 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Gullion, A.W., Jr. Sgt Rodgers, H.C. Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Maziasz, C.W. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 55 -- May 25, 1944, Thursday AM
Monchy Breton, France -- Airfield (S.5680)
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The following day 37 aircraft made an attack on the Monchy/Breton airfield. Due to an error, the first box dropped prematurely. The second box dropped a good concentration of bombs, but oddly enough, they hit all around the hangar, the M.P.I. Concussion probably destroyed the hanger and adjacent buildings. The boxes were led by Major Meng and Captain McNulty.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 80
Mission #55 - 25 May - Monchy/Breton Airfield. Major Meng and Lt. Powell BN, took Box I with Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, led Box II. The first box dropped prematurely, about eight miles short, which is most unusual for this experienced bombardier. Something had to go wrong with his equipment. The second box hit the aiming point, destroying the hanger and adjoining buildings. Lts. Marzolf and Basnett, BN led flights. The crews started wondering whether the Germans were running out of ack-ack shells. This is the third mission, over usually heavily defended territory where blankets of flak bursts met bombers.
"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
The 416th Bomb Group went on its 55th mission on the morning of May 25th , 1944. Major Meng led two boxes of eighteen ships each into France to strike at another landing strip of the enemy. It had been reported in the past that heavy and moderate accurate flak would be encountered near the St. Pol field, but not a burst was seen on the trip. This was the third successive flight in which no flak was seen. Some of the pilots were optimistic enough to believe that the Germans are really running out of ammunition.
Major Meng tried to do a little bombing on his own and dropped accidently eight miles from the target. However, the second box had a little different luck and hit the M.P.I. on the button. All planes returned safely without a scratch.