671st Bomb Squadron (L)

OPERATIONS

A-20G aircraft of the 671st Bomb Sq. over France about 19 April 44 .

This photo nicely illustrates the standard six aircraft flight pattern with three ships leading in a "V" pattern

and three more below in a "V" at slightly lower altitude.

This flight would have been in the #2 or #3 position as the lead aircraft does not have a glass nose to accomodate a navigator/bombardier.

A typical "Box" would consist of 18 aircraft in three flights of six each. A typical mission would consist of two or three boxes.

The "Box" was designed by General Curtis LeMay to maximize bomb pattern effectiveness and to minimize casualties from flak and enemy aircraft.

Pre-Normandy flight of 671st A-20s on a mission

Pre-Normandy flight of 671st A-20s on a mission over France

Tail # 43-9699 (5C - I) in foreground, over France prior to 10 April 1944

A-20s of the 671st Bomb Sq. on a post Normandy Invasion mission

A-26 "Rickey Tick II" with crew Claude Brown and Jim Kerns (photo courtesy of Jim Kerns)

Left to Right, Lt. Muir, Lt. Col. Willetts, Lt. Royalty, Ssgt Rose before A-26 at Melun-Villaroche

celebrating conclusion of the 200th mission of the 416th Bomb Group on 8 Feb 45.