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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 96 -- July 11, 1944, Tuesday PM Bourth, France Railroad Embankment
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 96 -- July 11, 1944, Tuesday PM Bourth, France Railroad Embankment
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 32 Total -- 26 A-20G's, 4 A-20J's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Tactical Target Dossier: 4800/B/2 Illustration : 4800/9 Illustration Ref : 052026 Summary of Results : Unobserved. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.76851,0.79621 (48° 46' 7" N, 0° 47' 46" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo from Mission 98) (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 # 96 -- July 11, 1944, Tuesday PM
Bourth, France -- Railroad Embankment
| 1 670th 43-9439 F6-J A-20J Maj Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 669th 43-21712 2A-H A-20J Maj Napier, J.G. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. S/Sgt Radlich, N. |
3 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Col Aylesworth, T.R. Sgt Elliott, F.W. Lt Lindsay, G.E. [Lindsay (4th CCU)] |
| 1 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
2 670th 43-9978 F6-S A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Wilson, B.R. Sgt Hall, M. |
3 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Calkins, C.R. S/Sgt White, H.E. S/Sgt Addleman, R.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9387 F6-H A-20G Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. Sgt Leahigh, L.L. Sgt Shaw, C.L. |
| 1 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Greenley, R.E. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. [Returned Early No Sortie Unable to locate formation] |
2 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. [Returned Early No Sortie Unable to locate formation] |
3 671st 43-10165 5C-H A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. Sgt DiMartino, A.E. [Returned Early] |
| 4 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Stockham, A.A. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. [Returned Early] |
| 1 669th 43-10147 2A-K A-20G Lt Morton, R.J. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Citty, F.M. |
2 669th 43-9961 2A-E A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
3 669th 43-9717 2A-N A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9673 2A-I A-20G Lt Dontas, P. S/Sgt Nielsen, A.L. S/Sgt Fields, W.E. |
| SPARE 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Brayn, M.R. [Flew in Position 3rd Ship, Flt. IV, Box II] |
| 1 668th 43-9640 5H-Z A-20J Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. |
2 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. S/Sgt Simpson, D.H. S/Sgt Robbins, L.G. |
3 668th 43-21764 5H-X A-20G Lt Hill, L.E. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. |
| 1 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. S/Sgt Hibbs, C.L. |
2 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Clausen, T. Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. Sgt Brown, D.M. |
3 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Sgt Euga, P.G. Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9745 5H-I A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. Sgt Wright, R.E. |
| 1 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Bartmus, G.F. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. Sgt Spadoni, J.K. |
2 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Miracle, R.V. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
3 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
| 4 668th 43-9975 5H-W A-20G Lt Cruze, R.K. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
| 1 669th 43-9390 2A-G A-20G Lt Shainberg, N.V. Sgt Bookach, M. Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
2 669th 43-9840 2A-V A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
3 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. [Not Airborne] |
| 4 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9943 2A-F A-20G Lt Elliott, D.W. Sgt McGuire, J.J. Sgt Mani, J. [Not Airborne] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 96 -- July 11, 1944, Tuesday PM
Bourth, France -- Railroad Embankment
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
After having flown seven missions in five days, we hit some bad weather.
We reverted to PFF bombing on the 11th, and bombed the Bourth railroad bridge through 10/10 clouds. The results were unobserved. Major Meng and Lt Osborne led both boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 108
Mission #96 - 11 July - Bourth Railway Bridge. The leader of
the first box on this mission is not chronicled and the only information
available on the mission is related by Chet Wysocki who
gives the best information. Weather was threatening in the morning,
but things cleared up in the afternoon and the boys took off.
When we are told B-26 Pathfinders would lead us in, we knew
clouds would hide the target . The second box was led by Lts.
Osborne and Forma, BN with Lt. Meagher and Lt. Burg, BN as
deputy. The formation was again a queer one with only four
planes to a flight and four flights to a box. What were the brass
experimenting with? When 16 planes drop bombs from one box
leader, it would seem that the odds of hitting are not too good if
the leader ran into trouble. If the leader went far off the target,
and that does happen, nobody gets to put their bombs where they
are supposed to go. It would seem that the best attack would be
to have flights of six bomb, increasing the possibility of success
by many-fold. In any event, on this mission, with PFF techniques
utilized, bombing results were not recorded due to the cloud
cover. No flak or fighters interferred with the formation, so all
returned safely.
Today, 36 enlisted men were pinned with the Good
Conduct Medals.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Once again misfortune tagged at our heels. On the 11th, while flying in a routine formation training flight, Lt. Walter L. Pentilla was killed. At 1,000 feet, one engine cut out. The plane dove into the ground. He died while being taken to the Hospital. Although he had been with the Squadron only a short time, those of us who had met him soon learned to like the stocky, blond-headed Pilot. He was our only loss during the month.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
After a busy five days of missions activity was at a standstill until July 11th when six of our crews were part of an attack against the Bourth railway bridge on a "pathfinder" mission. Also on this date thirty-three enlisted men received the Good Conduct Medal per General Order No 8, Hq 416th Bomb Group, dated 11 July 1944. ( See exhibit # 26 attached)
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
July 7th û July 16th , 1944
During the period from the Seventh of July through the 16th of July, the Group ran only six missions. The main reason for the slackening up has been the bad weather. The missions which were run were led by B-26 Pathfinders and the "bomb through cloud" technique was put into use. Many times during this period the crews went out to the ships, but were called back when the mission was delayed and then usually scrubbed. However, every now and then the group was able to sneak in a mission before it could be called off. That alone accounts for the six sorties in the last ten days... rather six missions.
No planes were downed by enemy action during this time and no crews were injured by flak. Quite a bit of flak was met on a few missions and some of the planes were shot up, although none serious.
Odds and Ends
On July 8th , 1944 Lt. Pair went on his third mission, the first in nearly three months. Lt. Ames and Lt. Withington are now regularly seen on the loading lists. These two pilots joined the Squadron a short time ago and have been doing pretty well for the length of time, with the Group S.O.P.s that each has had to contend with. Lt. Lackovich, a recent addition, is sweating out his first mission and is scheduled to go on the morning mission of July 18th ... after having completed a refresher transition course as put forth by Group Operations.
Just recently all of the older pilots -those who have been with the Squadron prior to coming overseas -have completed, or are preparing to do so their seven day operational leave. The regular 48-hour passes are still in affect. London has not been a very favorable spot to vacation lately as the Jerries have been putting up quite a few flying bombs. The boys complain about lack of sleep, although it is believed that there is a more underlying train of thought behind this lack of sleep excuse.
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[July 11, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, July 11, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |