416th BG Mission 63

Mission # 63 -- May 30, 1944, Tuesday AM
Denain/Prouvy, France -- Airdrome (S.790/5)

Box I -- Flight I
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 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Lt Sommers, H.L. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt LaNave, O.D. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F.	3 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Clearman, P.L., Jr. S/Sgt Zeikus, A.J.
4 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Platter, E.T. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Czech, J.L.	5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt York, R.W. S/Sgt Wilds, H.J. Sgt Ashton, L.A.	6 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P.

Box I -- Flight II
1 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr.	2 668th 43-9963 5H-N A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. 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 Adair, F.L. S/Sgt Love, C.F.
4 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C.	5 668th 43-9684 5H-K A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. Sgt Shelton, E.L. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R.	6 668th 43-10194 5H-A A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. Sgt Chustz, R.F.

Box I -- Flight III
1 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rogers, J.L., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I.	2 669th 43-9189 2A-P A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. Sgt Floyd, C.F.	3 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T.
4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E.	5 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. Sgt Hoffman, R.C.	6 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L.

Box I
SPARE 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. Sgt Mahoney, R.J.

Box II -- Flight I
1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Lt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G.	2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Capt Conant, H.F. Lt McBrien, R.T. Pvt Herttua, J.R. Sgt Sylva, H.J.	3 671st 43-9220 5C-E A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H.
4 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J.	5 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Griswold, R.M. Sgt Coulombe, P.E.	6 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Zubon, M. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Russell, W.C.

Box II -- Flight II
1 670th 43-9455 F6-T A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. Sgt Stephens, D.W.	2 670th 43-10157 F6-P A-20G Lt Shea, D.F. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G.	3 670th 43-9680 F6-R A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Gossett, J.D. S/Sgt Miller, R.L.
4 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I.	5 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B.	6 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Burns, D.E. Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr.

Box II -- Flight III
1 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Rudisill, R.S. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J.	2 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A.	3 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F.
4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S.	5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. Cpl McKee, J.C. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J.	6 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C.

Box II
SPARE 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. S/Sgt Werley, E.R.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 63 -- May 30, 1944, Tuesday AM
Denain/Prouvy, France -- Airdrome (S.790/5)

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

The 30th mission of the month, and the 63rd since we had begun operating, took off on the 30th. The target was the airdrome at Denian-Prouvy. The first box scored excellent results; the second, poor. A large hangar was damaged and a small one was destroyed. Two other buildings were destroyed, and three blast shelters were damaged. Major Willetts, with Lt Royalty, B-N, and Lt Marzolf, with Lt Basnett, B-N, led the boxes.

Other figures shown that our crews flew 1079 sorties during the month and dropped 786 tons of bombs.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 82 - 85

Mission #63 - 30 May - Denain Prouvy Airdrome. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN and Captain Conant and Lt. McBrien, BN led boxes. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, and Lts. Marzolf and Basnett, BN led flights. Lts. Sommers and McQuade flew deputy. Bombing results were rated excellent. P-47s provided cover for the group. No flak.

The month of May was a pretty hectic one for the group with 30 missions flown. Their successes were noted by higher ups, including a commendation for the IX bomber Command from the Air Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force, T. LEIGH-MALLORY which read:

Now that full reports have come in relating to the recent concentrated effort against special targets in Northern France, it is apparent that of all Bomber Forces involved, those of Ninth Air Force proved to be by far the most efficacious in knocking out these difficult and well defended tagets.

2. I have also watched the results of the Ninth Air Force operations against coastal defense batteries, and here again have been impressed with the accuracy of the bombing.

The concentrated, determined, and highly skilled manner in which these Groups have operated augurs well for the future, and I shall be glad if you will convey my congratulations to all those air and ground crews which have been involved in these operations.

Major General L. H. Brereton, Commanding the IX Bomber Command endorsed Mallory's commendation thusly:

It is with genuine pride and satisfaction in your accomplishments that I forward this letter on to you and every member of your command. You have had keen competition in your relentless assaults against the enemy and the statement of the Air Commander-in-Chief that you have proved to be by far the most efficacious in knocking out these difficult and well defended targets' is in itself great praise.

I have full faith and confidence in your ability and determination to maintain your most commendable record in the approaching invasion of the Continent. I wish you every success.

Brigadier General Samuel E. Anderson, Commanding the IX Bomber Command sent the following to all Commanding Officers of the Combat Wings, IX Bomber Command, and Commanding Officers of All Stations, IX Bomber Command:

1. The above letter from the Commanding General Ninth Air Force, expressing his pride and satisfaction in the accomplishments of IX Bomber Command and his faith and confidence in IX Bomber Command's ability and determination to operate efficiently and effectively in the coming invasion of the continent and this endorsement will be:

a. read to all combat crew members at briefing.

b. posted on all Squadron bulletin boards on your station for a period of three days in order that all station personnel may be informed of the high regard the Air Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force, and the Commanding General, Ninth Air Force, have for IX Bomber Command and its accomplishments and of my great pride in IX Bomber Command.

2. I dictate the above steps to inform all personnel of this letter because I am fully aware that the present scale of operations and the excellent bombing results being obtained are possible only because each officer and enlisted man in IX Bomber Command is doing his assigned task in the most efficient and loyal way possible. Combat crews deliver the bombs, the work of the ground personnel makes it possible for them to do so. Any credit due IX Bomber Command belongs to the command as a whole -- not to any individuals.

3. General Brereton's expression of faith and confidence in IX Bomber Command is most gratifying. It is also a challenge to us all. I am fully confident that no unit or individual of IX Bomber Command will fail to do his utmost to make the approaching invasion of the Continent the greatest success in military history. Your utmost efforts will be necessary, but I am confident they will be sufficient for victory. You have been tested and found worthy of the great part you will take in the supreme effort to crush our enemies. I am proud of you and confident of your success.

These accolades go a long way for the morale of all personnel who are proud recipients of these words,

"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.

On the 30th, a new bombardier, 1st Lt Robert Joost, joined the organization. He came to us from a B-26 squadron and had already been on 26 combat missions. This brought our total of bombardiers up to T/O strength for the first time.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

The 416th crossed the Channel 10 times from May 26th through June 4th to paste the enemy Airdromes, Marshalling Yards and No-Balls in air operations which were intended to knock the blocks from under the Nazis transportation, communication, and defense set-up in occupied France.