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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 88 -- June 30, 1944, Friday PM Thury - Harcourt, France Road Centers
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 88 -- June 30, 1944, Friday PM Thury - Harcourt, France Road Centers
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 35 Total -- 25 A-20G's, 8 A-20J's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Tactical Target Dossier: 4801W/Q/6 Illustration : 4801W/49 Illustration Ref : 662101 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Box 1 - Good. Box 2 - No attack due to PFF a/c equipment failure. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.98702,-0.47672 (48° 59' 13" N, 0° 28' 36" W) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (LZ1) vT941468) (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 # 88 -- June 30, 1944, Friday PM
Thury - Harcourt, France -- Road Centers
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Maj Dunn, L.F. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Mayhew, A.E. [Mayhew (4th CCU)] |
2 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt DeMand, F.W. Lt Hanlon, R.J. S/Sgt Johnson, K.L. S/Sgt Middleton, C.W. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Col Mace, H.L. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 1 668th 43-21719 5H-V A-20J Capt Prentiss, R.B. Lt McBrien, R.T. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. |
2 668th 43-9935 5H-F A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
3 668th 43-9975 5H-W A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
| 4 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. Sgt Giesy, S.H., Jr. |
5 668th 43-9379 5H-G A-20G Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Sgt Euga, P.G. Sgt Schafer, E.L. [Not Airborne] |
6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. S/Sgt Hantske, D. |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. |
2 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. |
3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Capt Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 4 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
5 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. Sgt Noteriani, F. |
6 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Welsh, A.J. Sgt Wright, R.E. Sgt Novak, S.G. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Morehouse, R.C. S/Sgt Zygiel, L.A. S/Sgt Burgess, A.J. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Maj Clark, R.A. Lt Jones, C.W. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
2 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
| 1 669th 43-21712 2A-H A-20J Lt Morton, R.J. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
2 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. Sgt Fleming, L.R. S/Sgt Kemper, L.B. [Kemper (4th CCU)] |
3 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Boukamp, T. S/Sgt Colosimo, R.J. S/Sgt Wing, J.S. |
5 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Vleghels, A.J. S/Sgt Rice, R.W. S/Sgt Young, C.E. |
6 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. Sgt Hay, J.E. Sgt Buskirk, J.A. |
| 1 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Monroe, H.A. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Risko, S. |
2 670th 43-9209 F6-K A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. Sgt Blackford, D.S. Sgt Burger, L.C. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Sommers, D.T. Sgt Zaklikiewicz, S.R. Sgt Johnson, J.L. |
| 4 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt McCleary, H.M. S/Sgt DiNapoli, S.F. |
5 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Griffin, E.L. S/Sgt Maziasz, C.W. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Dias, M.E. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. [No Sortie] |
| 1 669th 43-9450 2A-S A-20J Lt Cole, H.P. Lt Beck, J.T. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
3 671st 43-9221 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Harp, C.J. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 88 -- June 30, 1944, Friday PM
Thury - Harcourt, France -- Road Centers
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The final mission of the month, NO. 88 for the Group, was flown on the 30th. The target---road centers in Thury-Harcourt. Anticipating bad weather over the target, PFF was to be employed if necessary. It was used in the first box with fair results near the intersection. PFF equipment in the second box failed so that that box did not drop its bombs. Captain Dunn and Major Clark led the two boxes.
Also on that last day of the month, in an unfortunate training accident, 1st Lt. Scott B. Ritchie, Jr., was killed. Killed with him were his two gunners, S/Sgt. Edwin A. Anderson and Sgt. Howard W. Smith. He was taking off at a nearby field, with chemical tanks on the wings, when one engine cut out. The plane pancaked in and cracked up. Their remains have been placed interred in the American Military Cemetery in Cambridge, England.
A resume of our activities shows that of the 25 missions that the Group participated in during June, 925 tons of bombs were dropped and 939 sorties were flown.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 103
Mission #88 - 30 June - Thury-Harcourt Railroad Junction.
Captain Dunn and Lt. Arrington, BN, Lts. DeMand and Hanlon,
BN, Lts. Cole and Beck, BN, Captain Prentiss and Lt. McBrien,
BN, and Lt. Meagher and Lt. Burg, BN, led flights. The usual
"little Friends" were with the mission, and little flak came up.
Bombing results were termed from fair to good.
Thus ended 25 missions for the month, some rather
rough, others, like we'll take them any day in the week. Some
transfers of personnel were made between squadrons, and two
members of the group jumped up to Wing Headquarters.
A 668th pilot, West Point Grad 1st Lt. Scott Ritchie was
dispatched to fly a "smoke" mission with the RAF. He had gunners
Anderson and Smith with him. For unexplained reasons, the
plane disappeared from its spot and the next thing others noticed
was a pile of rubble on the ground, snuffing out these great boys.
Ritchie was a well experienced pilot, having brought in damaged
craft before, including bringing in a plane on fire during training
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The two gunners were 20 and 21
years old, a sad loss.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 30 June, First Lieutenant Scott B. Ritchie Jr., 0 26 239, Staff Sergeant Edwin A. Anderson, 31 324 736, and Staff Sergeant Harold W. Smith, 33 568 884, were killed when their ship unaccountably crashed shortly after take-off on a training smoke-mission. Lieutenant Ritchie was a graduate of the West Point class of 1943, and had been with the Squadron since September of that year. He was an excellent and courageous flyer who on more than one occasion distinguished himself by successfully landing badly damaged aircraft. Lieutenant Ritchie had flown 36 combat missions. Staff Sergeant Anderson, who came overseas with the unit, was a veteran of 42 missions. Staff Sergeant Smith had flown 20 combat sorties.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the last day of the month, Major Clark led a box in an attack on road centers in Thury-Harcourt. A technique that had been newly employed in A-20s was used, PFF or Pathfinder, for blind bombing.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
A pathfinder mission was again flown on the 30th, with 7 crews of
the 670th taking part in an attack on the Thury Harcourt road centers.
The last day of the month brought promotions to three officers,
Lts Nordstrom, Ostrander and McBride receiving notice of their advance
to 1st Lt.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
June 26th û July 6th , 1944
Typical English weather, complete with clouds, rain and mist, confined the 416th Bomb Group to just five missions during this period. Formations went over France once on the 29th of June, the 30th of June and the 4th of July; and finally twice on July 6th . The two June missions were cake runs, but the ships ran into a little trouble in the last three. On July 4th Captain Jackman of the 670th Squadron made a single engine hop back across the channel. He was carrying a cameraman from the 4th Combat Camera Unit assigned to this Group, and, upon reaching England, Captain Jackman ordered the man to jump, which he did. However, for some reason which will never be known, the chute fail to open until it reached the ground, enough said.
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[June 30, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, June 30, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |