BG


The 1781st Ordnance Group was attached to the 416th Bomb Group. Also attached to the 416th was the 495th Air Service Group and the 913th Air Engineering Squadron.
  • 669th Squadron emblem - "Sure Shot Sully"
  • 670th Squadron emblem - "Beaky the Bomber"


    BG

    Please help if you know anything about this 416 BG emblem.


    Stations:
        * 170 Wethersfield, England - February 1944
        * A-55 Meleune, France - September 1944 - February 1945
        * A-69 Laon, France - February 1945 - May 1945
        * A-59 Pontoise, France - May 1945 - ?


    Planes in the 416th Bomb Group:
    ** Photographs courtesy of Carl Sgamboti.
    The photographer was Captain Francis J. Cachat, the 416th Photographic Services Officer.
    Andrew Fluxe gave the photos to Carl.

    Plane information courtesy of Pilot Lou Prucha
    Serial Number Name of Plane Name of Pilot Notes
     Angel of Mercy1Lt Wes Chitty
    670 BS
     Boomerang   ** 1Lt Ernest L JohnsonGunner - SSgt W J Donahue
    Gunner - SSgt M R Brayn
    668 BS
     Bula   **   
     Burke IICapt Robert Bower
    670 BS
     Doris Ann   **  669 BS
     Doris Lee   **   
     Eva Mae1Lt James A Carver 
     El Lobo   **   669 BS
     Fearless Phos   **   
     Heavenly Body   **  Crew Chief: TSgt. Halle
     Irish   **   
     Lady Luck   ** 1Lt. Luther E Hill
    668 BS
     Lady of Man  
     Nino   **   
     Near Miss TSgt Brainerd R Evans
    668 BS
     Maggie's Drawers   **
    Maggie's Drawers
    1Lt John _____669 BS
     Miss Mildred   ** 1Lt. Edward G. Bishop
    670 BS
     Miss Laid   ** Lt Charles L McGlohnCrew Chief - TSgt Royal S Everts
    Asst Crew Chief - Cpl Edson Hadden
    670 BS
    Completed 100th mission Oct 6, 1944 - Renamed 'La France Libre'
     Miss Laid   **   
     Rose Marie 670 BS
     Pagliacci   **   
    669 BS
     Pretty Baby   **   SSgt. Clarence M. Gray
    668 BS
     Pretty Janet   **  TSgt A L Brewer - Crew Chief
     Ruthie   **   
      Sugar Baby II   
     The Terrible Ute  
     The Texas Kid   **   
     Timmy II   ** Maj. Robert F 'Jug' Price (BS CO)668 BS
     Touchdown   **   
     Uncle Bob  
    ??-??387For Pete's SakesWayne Musgrove669 BS
    Named for pilot's wife, Pete
    41-3368   
    41-3369   
    41-39187   
    41-39188 1Lt Jack A WillardCrew:
    Cpl John B Futch
    SSgt Cletus V Hinker
    669 BS
    41-39210 1Lt Wayne E DowningGunner - E S Dickenson, Horbeck
    668BS
    41-39212 2Lt Donald L PriceCrew:
    Sgt Albert Helt
    Sgt William F Scheibe
    671 BS
    41-39213 2Lt Clifford J VarsCrew:
    Gunner - Sgt John J Griffith, Jr
    668BS
    41-39222 1Lt George Hubert SteedArmorer/Gunner: Roy Burns 
    41-39232 1Lt John W BlevinsCrew:
    Sgt Casmir J Kaminski
    Cpl Rudolph L Klumpp
    668 BS
    41-39233 2Lt Benjamin A SmithCrew:
    SSgt James H Walters
    SSgt William S McGauchy
    669 BS
    41-39237 1Lt William R Jokinen Gunner - Sgt Edward J Creeden
    671 BS
    Lt Jokinen was captured by Germans
    41-39238 2Lt John J. FarleyCrew:
    Gunner - Sgt Edgar R. Hardesty
    669 BS
    41-39244 1Lt Roy W VanropeCrew:
    SSgt Manuel R Reyes
    PFC Julian R Suniga
    669 BS
    41-39249 1Lt James H CarverCrew:
    SSgt Clarence L Skeens
    Cpl Elmer H Neupert
    668 BS
    41-39250 1Lt George J ParkhurstCrew:
    SSgt Raymond P Windisch
    Sgt Kurt J Scheffler
    668 BS
    41-39265 1Lt William R HeinkeCrew:
    SSgt Arthur B Eaton
    SSgt Delbert C Gilliam
    670 BS
    41-39274Sugar Baby   ** 1Lt Lumir J. 'Lou' PruchaGunner - Sgt Leland 'Lee' Ferguson
    TSgt Glenn C Wilson
    Ground Crew:
    Van Brink
    Earl J Norris
    668 BS
    41-39300 1Lt John F WallaceCrew:
    Sgt Louis H Hanna
    SSgt Wendell O Clark
    670 BS
    41-39305 1Lt Lumir J PruchaCrew:
    SSgt Alvin B Stewart
    Sgt Anthony P Nester
    668 BS
    41-39328 1Lt David B GrunigCrew:
    Sgt Otto F Mulzet
    Sgt John W Tschudin Jr
    670 BS
    41-39335 1Lt Leo E PoundstoneCrew:
    Sgt Ralph P Wilson
    SSgt Charles W Veazey
    668 BS
    41-39338 1Lt Alton R TurmanCrew:
    Alfred H Kimball
    Cassmer Belzowski
    670 BS
    41-39361 1Lt James Patrick KennyCrew:
    Gunner - SSgt John J 'Jack' Sittarich
    Crash - March 1945
    668 BS
    41-39362 Capt Otto F JacobsenCrew:
    Sgt Charles W Boyd
    Sgt Donald Hawk
    668 BS
    41-39446  6 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    41-39564 1Lt Ray R WarrenCrew:
    Sgt Raymond W Burton
    Sgt Richard M Wilson
    670 BS
    41-322354Tom Swift's Flying Machine1Lt Carl Weinert59 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    669 BS
    42-39514Hel'n Back  
    43-3232  10 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    43-8439Out Hell'n   **   
    43-9181 Daddy Lands Commando1Lt. Willard H. LandCrew:
    SSgt. Sterling Alden - Gunner
    SSgt. Robert Ballinger - Bombardier
    Sgt Kenneth W Bailey - Ground Crew
    669 BS
    Call sign: 181A Able
    79 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    43-9189Greetings From Winsome Winnie   ** 1Lt Joseph S Connor669 BS
    43-9182 Capt Hiram F ConantSSgt Earnest Kelly - Gunner
    Joseph McCreary - Gunner
    668 BS
    43-9194 1Lt. Scott R RitchieAnderson, Clark
    668 BS
    43-9195 1Lt. Robert R SvensonWild, Phenning
    668 BS
    43-9203   
    43-9213 2Lt William D Minnicks 
    43-9218 Capt Lloyd F DunnGunner - SSgt H C Worden
    671 BS
    43-9219 1Lt Harold David Andrews
    670 BS
    43-9220 1Lt Ronald D Perkins
    671 BS
    43-9221 1Lt William A 'Feather' MerchantCrew:
    SSgt C J Harp
    SSgt K P Brown
    671 BS
    43-9223 Capt William 'Pat' Battersby
    Maj Robert F Price
    TSgt Melvin Bjartness - Crew Chief
    668 BS
    Test Flight - The ship plunged to the earth, exploded and burned.
    43-9224La France Libre  668 BS
    43-9360The Flying Sieve SSgt Arlington W Newkirk
    668 BS
    43-9362  668 BS
    43-9380Denver Darling   ** 1Lt. Ernest L. JohnsonCrew:
    TSgt. Anderson
    Sgt. Goff
    Sgt. Wark
    668 BS
    43-9444  2Lt Vernon H Powell - B/N, Price, Hand, Judd, Fejes
    668 BS
    43-9450   
    43-9455   
    43-9640 Capt Hiram F ConantSSgt John R Orr - Gunner
    668 BS
    43-9673  Shot down AAA near Fervent, France August 8, 1944
    8 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    43-9684 Capt. Elden B 'The Beaver' KrebSgt Harold A Potter, Shelton, Daniel R Schenck
    668 BS
    43-9699 William Edward CramsieLost April 10, 1944, disappeared into Bradwell Bay off the coast of England
    Crew:
    SSgt Charles R Henshaw
    SSgt Jack Steward
    671 BS
    43-9701  668 BS
    43-9707 1Lt Smith 
    43-9711Moanin' Gus   ** Gustave 'Little Gus' Ebenstein671 BS
    43-9717  Sgt Jamie E Hay
    Sgt Joseph A Buskirk
    669 BS
    43-9745 2Lt. Robert D LesherHarold R Hedrick, Adolfus J Anatanatis
    668 BS
    43-9836  668 BS
    43-9914   
    43-9925  Shot down 9-29-44 in Julich 16KM northeast of Broichweiden Linden near Aachen
    43-9951It's Just A Step Over   **   
    43-9956 1Lt Gentry L Milhorn
    671 BS
    43-9983 2Lt Harry E Hawes, JrSSgt Harold H Boyer
    669 BS
    43-9987  Sgt Gerald E Hart
    670 BS
    43-10135Claudene   ** Capt. Meredith J. Huff669 BS
    43-10148  Lost June 6, 1944
    43-10164  Lost June 6, 1944
    43-10165  Shot down 9-29-44 in Julich 16KM northeast of Broichweiden Linden near Aachen
    43-10194 1Lt. Gustave 'Little Gus' EbensteinS P Newell, Holley Perkins
    668BS
    Lost May 27, 1944
    43-10203  Lost May 27, 1944
    43-10206  Lost May 27, 1944
    43-21717 Captain Richard B. PrentissCrew:
    B/N - 1Lt Francis H. Bursiel
    Armorer/Gunner - SSgt Daniel W. Brown
    Armorer/Gunner - Sgt. Alvin O. Wylie
    668 BS
    43-22307 1Lt Russell FordCrew:
    Gunner - SSgt Freeland M. Tharp
    670 BS
    43-22317 1Lt Robert R. SvensonCrew:
    SSgt Philip G. Field
    668 BS
    Lost December 25, 1944
    43-22320 1Lt Paul L NortonCrew:
    Cpl Clay B Harrison, Jr
    Sgt Robert Dubi
    669 BS
    43-22321 2Lt Russell L SimpsonCrew:
    Sgt Peter Hatman
    Sgt George Prochazka
    671 BS
    43-22326 1Lt John W SpiresCrew:
    Sgt Wendell W Maupin
    Cpl Olaf E Anderson
    671 BS
    43-22334   
    43-22351 2Lt Laurence L DantzerCrew:
    Sgt Robert E Graub
    Sgt Robert C Schumacher
    671 BS
    43-22389 2Lt Alexander E HlivkoCrew:
    SSgt William A MacCarthey
    Cpl Harold H Shapiro
    671 BS
    43-22419 F/O Stewart B Boerner JrCrew:
    SSgt Herbert E Sunderland
    SSgt John W Rose
    670 BS
    43-22495 F/O Harry G. GunkelGunner - Sgt. LeRoy J. Grzona
    668 BS
    43-22496  6 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    Converted "C" to "B", Fishtails according to Fred Stemler's logbook
    43-22499Reida Rae   ** 1Lt. Claude Brown
    1Lt. Jack Buskirk
    Crew:
    1Lt. Jim Kerns - B/N
    1Lt.Dick Muir - B/N
    Sgt. Herb Sunderland - Gunner
    1Lt. Bob Hanna - BN
    Sgt. C. Houston (Jim) Corbett - Gunner
    669 BS
    43-22512 1Lt John J. ChalmersCrew:
    B/N - 2Lt Lawrence A. Eckard
    Engineer/Gunner - SSgt Kim Fortner
    668 BS
    43-22521 1Lt Ross H. Cornell, Jr.Crew:
    B/N - 2Lt Roland E. Enman
    Armorer/Gunner - SSgt Ashton Carter
    669 BS
    43-22523 Capt Charles J. AndersonCrew:
    B/N - 2Lt Westmorland Babbage
    Armorer/Gunner - SSgt Stanley L. Heitell
    Bombardier - 2Lt Leo J. Roman
    668 BS
    43-39232  10 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    43-39240 1Lt John W. KehoeCrew:
    Armorer/Gunner - Cpl Robert F. Graham
    669 BS
    43-39393 2Lt Jack V ObrienCrew:
    Sgt Chalmus D Carlile
    Sgt Lloyd L Fidao
    670 BS
    44-108 Capt Richard V. MiracleCrew:
    B/N - 1st Lt. Jack J. Burg
    Armorer/Gunner - S Sgt. Arthur F. Galloway
    Armorer/Gunner - SSgt John R. Simmonds
    668 BS
    44-475 2Lt Thomas V SmithCrew:
    Gunner - Sgt Emory A Smith
    668 BS
    44-477 1Lt Jack W WilliamsCrew:
    B/N - 2Lt Albert L Keener
    Gunner - TSgt Glenn C Wilson
    668 BS
    44-479 2Lt John F LubbenCrew:
    Gunner - Gunner - Sgt Albert A Forgue
    668 BS
    44-480 2Lt Lumir J PruchaCrew:
    Gunner - Gunner - Sgt Leland C Ferguson
    668 BS
    44-484 2Lt Robert H GurleyCrew:
    Gunner - Pvt Leroy C Gilliland
    668 BS
    44-485 1Lt Edward W MordaCrew:
    B/N - 1Lt Albert H Harris
    Gunner - Cpl Ennis T Fulcher
    668 BS
    44-33102  3 Combat Missions with Fred Stemler as Crew Chief
    60-033La France Libre   **  Crew Chief - TSgt Royal S Everts
    Asst Crew Chief - Cpl Edson Hadden
    Flew 100 missions.


    #442 Osborne, Forma, Kelly, Coe 668
    #0176 Pilot - Capt. Richard V. 'Dick' Miracle, Seig, Burkhalter 668
    #894 Pilot - 2Lt. Richard D Poindexter, Robbins, Simpson 668
    #226 Pilot - Capt. Joseph F. Meagher, Gunner - Douglas Hantske, Gunner - SSgt Flipido A Damico 668
    #963 Pilot - 2Lt. Raymond K Cruze, Adair, Love 668
    #0154 Pilot - 2Lt. Luther E Hill, Burch, Yost 668
    #196 Pilot - 1Lt Samuel P Leischman 670
    #265 Pilot - 1Lt Smith
    #291 Pilot - 1Lt Sterling Mooney 671
    #363
    #493
    #125 668
    #129 Pilot - 1Lt Robert E Stockwell
    #22 Crew Chief - TSgt Robert G Delano 668
    #527 - 1Lt Ross H Cornell, 1Lt Roland E Enman, SSgt Ashton Carter - Crash March 1945

    1Lt Leo Poundstone, Kalen Heath, Arnie Burland - 669 BS