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Summary:
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This was one of the Group's most unfortunate missions. The 401st provided three Boxes to form the "A" formation of the 94th Combat Wing. The target was enemy troop concentrations and strong points in the Caen area, which were being attacked by British and Canadian troops.
The Low Box was able to bomb its assigned area, but the Lead and High Boxes could not find the target due to smoke from previous Group strikes. While circling back, the Lead Aircraft of the High Box had just reached the Canadian lines when it was hit by flak and burst into flames. In the emergency its bombs were salvoed, whereupon the other aircraft in the High Box, seeing their leader's bombs fall, dropped their bombs as well. Unfortunately the bombs fell on Canadian troops, killing 25 and wounding 131. The Lead Box returned to Deenethorpe without dropping its bombs.
Major Jere Maupin, Squadron Commander of the 612th Squadron, was flying as Box Leader on the aircraft hit by flak (No. 43-37510), which was piloted by Capt. F. P. Ball. Major Maupin and five members of the crew were able to parachute to safety. However, the ball turret gunner was trapped in his turret, and it is believed that at least two of his comrades went down with the ship while attempting to extricate him. In all, four crew members were killed.
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