This target was a tactical gun emplacement to be struck in aiding the impending Allied invasion coming ashore. The 577th and 578th Squadrons were designated to lead with Bombardiers, Lieutenants Benenson and Morton, respectively. Briefings were held at 0530 and 0600 for (23) crews and all took off beginning at 0931 hours. A total of (21) bombed the target, releasing (252) 500# GP bombs by PFF flares, with results unobserved due to lO/lOths undercast. No enemy aircraft or flak were seen. All aircraft returned to base safely around 1445 hours.
Capt Robert V. Pardue's crew in the 579th Sqdn had flown combat missions with the 392nd BG from 8 Apr 1944 through 23 May 1944. Then, they were unexpectedly transferred to the 489th BG. They flew missions on May 24 and 31 before embarking on a mission to Paris, France, on June 2. Flak badly damaged their ship and wounded several crewmen. Tail gunner T/Sgt Raymond C. Thornburg was fatally injured and gunner T/Sgt Charles B. Holley was also very badly injured. On June 3, the other members of the Pardue crew was ordered back to the 392nd where they completed their combat tour. See Pardue Journal for complete details about T/Sgt Thornburg and T/Sgt Holley's injuries.
Although not a member of the 392nd BG on June 2, 1944, T/Sgt Raymond C. Thornburg is honored and remembered here.
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 511 |
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P Ellison, B.M. 1st Lt. CP Jewett, G.A. 1st Lt. N Tooman, H.K. 2nd Lt. B Anderson, C.S. S/Sgt. E Samples, H.F. T/Sgt. R Jenkins, W.B. T/Sgt. RW Picking, H.E. S/Sgt. LW Williams, R. S/Sgt. BT Salus, R.W. S/Sgt. TG Tupper, J.A. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 031 |
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P Levell, O.F. Jr. 2nd Lt. CP Caruso, J.A. 2nd Lt. N Scott, K.R. 2nd Lt. B Teague, H.S. 2nd Lt. E Villegas, V.R. S/Sgt. R Keegan, G.M. S/Sgt. RW Mackie, R.A. Pvt. LW Scott, R.J. Sgt. BT Jackson, H.B. Sgt. TG Trusten, S. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 222 |
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P Hofmann, H.W. 2nd Lt. CP Gorton, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Randall, J.A. 2nd Lt. B Wise, D.C. 2nd Lt. E Boney, R.E. S/Sgt. R McNutt, W.H. Sgt. RW Dopson, V.H. Sgt. LW Kamacho, J.A. Sgt. BT Sanders, O.B. Sgt. TG Goo, R.F. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 097 |
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P Jones, G.E. 1st Lt. CP Faas, J.E. 2nd Lt. N Morris, J.C. 1st Lt. B Thomas, H.E. 1st Lt. E Bodoh, A.E. T/Sgt. R McAdams, R.E. T/Sgt. RW Marvin, H.E. S/Sgt. LW Lane, T. S/Sgt. BT Surber, W.C. S/Sgt. TG Rossi, V.H. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 617 |
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P Martin, R.C. Jr. 2nd Lt. CP Hilbert, H.S. 2nd Lt. N Waldo, L.C. 2nd Lt. B Wear, H.E. 2nd Lt. E Blees, K.H. S/Sgt. R Thiel, J.G. S/Sgt. RW Cannon, M.H. Sgt. LW Buonocore, F.L. Sgt. BT - - TG Roberts, M.E. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 070 |
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P Peifer, K.W. 2nd Lt. CP Nielsen, P.H. 2nd Lt. N Coe, J.D. 2nd Lt. B Ott, C.A. 2nd Lt. E Thornborrow, R.R. S/Sgt. R Fitzmorris, T.L. S/Sgt. RW Nichols, L.E. Sgt. LW Parrish, J.I. Sgt. BT Sherman, I.G. Sgt. TG Calvitt, J.L. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 415 |
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P Pierson, L.R. 2nd Lt. CP Hart, H.E. 2nd Lt. N Dunham, K.E. 2nd Lt. B DelSol, E.J. Sgt. E Hartline, J.B. S/Sgt. R Dawson, J.C. S/Sgt. RW Gover, G.W. Sgt. LW Cyran, T.J. Sgt. BT - - TG Vandeventer, L.V. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 012 |
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P Scheltens, G.A. 1st Lt. CP Vaughan, H.C. 2nd Lt. N Coward, D.M. 1st Lt. B Benenson, M. 2nd Lt. E Mandelkow, E. S/Sgt. R Borden, K.L. T/Sgt. RW Kolczynski, W.J. Sgt. LW Crotty, W.L. S/Sgt. BT Thompson, I.F. S/Sgt. TG Freeman, J.B. Sgt. NG Eldridge, H.N. 1st Lt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 096 |
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Francine, J.L. Maj. P Monroe, D.E. 1st Lt. CP Neill, C.W. 2nd Lt. N Cox, R.B. 2nd Lt. NG Lucas, L.M. S/Sgt. E Morgan, L.S. T/Sgt. R Lancy, N.J. T/Sgt. RW Hall, G.E. S/Sgt. LW Dilley, P.E. S/Sgt. BT Wambach, J. Sgt. TG Desonne, M. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 495 |
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P Johnson, O.P. 1st Lt. CP Tedford, L.W. 2nd Lt. N Bober, L. 2nd Lt. NG Cordick, D.H. S/Sgt. E Whitson, M.D. T/Sgt. R Perlberg, A.C. T/Sgt. RW Barnard, C.F. S/Sgt. LW Joyce, R. S/Sgt. BT Kaeble, R.R. S/Sgt. TG Marchuk, J. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 040 |
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P McGrath, T.F. 2nd Lt. CP Faulkner, J.J. 2nd Lt. N Smith, P.J. 2nd Lt. NB Patton, L.A. Pvt. E McFadden, R.J. S/Sgt. R Stewart, G.S. S/Sgt. RW Walsh, H.R. Sgt. LW Vines, V.L. Sgt. BT Schroeder, R.C. Sgt. TG Shoemaker, D.R. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 164 |
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P Pierce, W.R. F/O CP Brizendine, T.O. 2nd Lt. N Roy, D.G. 2nd Lt. NG Demar, S. Sgt.. E Stand, A.J. S/Sgt. R Rankin, R.P. S/Sgt. RW Cooperman, G.F. Sgt. LW Ferenc, F.J. Sgt. BT Apter, A. Sgy. TG Carrabba, C. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 966 |
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P Roberts, A.M. 2nd Lt. CP Houtz, G.B. 2nd Lt. N Prentice, C.L. 2nd Lt. B Hart, D.R. 2nd Lt. E Rojas, Y. S/Sgt. R Lippert, K.A. S/Sgt. RW Blaise, E.W. Sgt. LW Phelps, G.A. S/Sgt. BT Collins, R.R. S/Sgt. TG Pryor, M.L. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 466 |
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P Muldoon, J.E. 1st Lt. CP Otis, J.J. 1st Lt. N Ortenberg, B. 1st Lt. B Morton, E.R. 2nd Lt. E Byrd, J.M. T/Sgt. R Braddock, W.A. T/Sgt. RW Bluejacket, J.W. S/Sgt. LW Carpenter, J.A.S/Sgt. BT Bednarcik, S.A. S/Sgt. TG Svoboda, J.J. S/Sgt. NG Westbrook, J.W. 1st Lt. |
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2 Jun 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 241 |
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P Hamblen, C.W. 1st Lt. CP McCarter, H.L. 2nd Lt. N Hurst, F.B. Jr. 2nd Lt. B Joyce, G.P. 2nd Lt. E Sears, A.R. T/Sgt. R Burnell, W.E. T/Sgt. RW Harris, H.E. S/Sgt. LW Butler, G.R. S/Sgt. BT McLain, B.G. Pvt. TG Lindsay, V.R. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 041 |
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P Henderson, P.B. 2nd Lt. CP Stull, R.B. 2nd Lt. N Williamson, R.D. 2nd Lt. B - - E Thompson, A.W. S/Sgt. R Burns, P.J. S/Sgt. RW Smith, G.R. Sgt. LW Vantine, J.E. Sgt. BT Ivey, E.H. Jr. Sgt. TG Howell, J.L. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 896 |
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P McCarthy, C.G. 1st Lt. CP Buchanan, R.P. 1st Lt. N McSweeney, J.D. 2nd Lt. NG Hardy, E.C. S/Sgt. E Kottke, A.H. T/Sgt. R Whittington, T. T/Sgt. RW Turner, L.F. S/Sgt. LW White, T. S/Sgt. BT Morris, J.A. S/Sgt. TG Eckert, J.A. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 789 |
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P Niederriter, R.A. 2nd Lt. CP Spencer, F.R. 2nd Lt. N Richert, G.W. F/O B Correnty, R.D. 2nd Lt. E Maertens, H.J. S/Sgt. R Underwood, J.W. S/Sgt. RW Greenwood, I.G. Sgt. NG Flowers, W.C. Sgt. BT Traina, S. Sgt. TG Spurgeon, E.F. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 308 |
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P Menard, J.F. 2nd Lt. CP Holmes, J.G. 2nd Lt. N Krause, T.J. 2nd Lt. B Hartwick, E.J. 2nd Lt. E Walsh, D.A. S/Sgt. R Blackford, L.N. S/Sgt. RW Holton, Q.F. Sgt. LW Redman, G.A. Jr. Sgt. BT - - TG Tubbs, H.L. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 990 |
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P Miller, R.L. 1st Lt. CP Connor, J.A. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Hession, W.J. 2nd Lt. B Baker, R.W. 2nd Lt. E Freeman, C.W. S/Sgt. R Carlstrand, R.E. S/Sgt. RW Fritz, G.G. Sgt. LW Cubakovic, J.G. Sgt. BT DeFrates, R.R. Sgt. TG Wolfe, P.J. Cpl. OBS McEwan, D.L. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 135 |
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P Leghorn, A.F. 2nd Lt. CP Floyd, R.B. 2nd Lt. N Seymer, R.F. 2nd Lt. B Rothman, M. F/O E Powell, W.A. S/Sgt. R Pattison, W.G. S/Sgt. RW Huskey, C.O. Sgt. LW Squires, R. Sgt. BT Brown, L.F. Sgt. TG Lanier, J.E. Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 160 |
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P Cornell, J.T. 2nd Lt. CP Berger, J.E. 2nd Lt. N Ingels, G.A. 2nd Lt. NG Daywalt, J.E. S/Sgt. E Rawson, B.J. S/Sgt. R Kuchta, J. S/Sgt. RW Stahl, W.H. Sgt. LW Hebert, I.L. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Siegel, G.W. S/Sgt. |
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2 Jun 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 261 |
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P Schafer, W.A. 2nd Lt. CP Winans, G.L. 2nd Lt. N Martin, A.V. F/O B Jaffe, A.J. 2nd Lt. E Reid, H.R. S/Sgt. R Ward, R.A. S/Sgt. RW Razo, E.G. Sgt. LW Miller, S. Sgt. BT - - TG Pitts, J.B. Sgt. |
