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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 155 -- October 12, 1944, Thursday AM Langerwehe, Germany Town
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 155 -- October 12, 1944, Thursday AM Langerwehe, Germany Town
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 41 Total -- 34 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Target Ref : LANGERWEHE Illustration : G.S.G.S. MAP. 4416 ST. R-1 Illustration Ref : 029475 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : 3 Window ships included. Flight 6 results Good, Remaining flights did not attack. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.81890,6.35850 (50° 49' 8" N, 6° 21' 31" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF029475) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1944 Thursday |
No_Report | 43-10200 A-20G |
155 | 671 | A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France | Herman, Arthur E. (Not Injured)
Garrett, Alvin D. (LWS, RTD) Cook, George Moss (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 155 -- October 12, 1944, Thursday AM
Langerwehe, Germany -- Town
| 1 671st 43-22065 5C-E A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. |
2 671st 43-9841 5C-O A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
3 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
| 4 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Adams, J.D. S/Sgt Wellin, H.E. S/Sgt Kutzer, L.G. |
5 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. Cpl Steffey, R.I. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Winn, A.J.P. Cpl Davis, W.G., Jr. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Prindle, C.A. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. Sgt Fair, V.F. |
| 4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. Sgt Mani, J. |
5 669th 43-9963 2A-L A-20G Lt Kehoe, J.W. Cpl Arendt, E.A. Pvt Richardson, L.L. |
6 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Sorrels, D.W. Cpl Malara, V.A. Cpl Triber, H.I. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Capt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
2 669th 43-10159 2A-G A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
| 4 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. Pvt Reid, K.A. |
5 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
6 669th 43-9943 2A-Z A-20G Lt Butler, G.S. Cpl McClain, H.B. Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9368 2A-K A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
5 671st 43-10200 5C-F A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. |
6 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. |
2 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Evans, H.M. Sgt Skeens, C.L. Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. |
3 668th 43-21809 5H-A A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. Sgt Roberts, J.H. |
| 4 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. Sgt Heitell, S.L. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
5 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. |
6 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt Profita, P.J. Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. S/Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. S/Sgt Brown, D.M. |
2 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Stanley, C.S. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. Sgt Collier, C.B. |
3 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
| 4 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. Sgt Damico, E.A. |
5 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
6 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. Sgt Sittarich, J.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Miguez, J.H. Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
| 1 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Lt Miracle, R.V. F/O McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
3 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 155 -- October 12, 1944, Thursday AM
Langerwehe, Germany -- Town
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Weather postponed the next mission until the 12th. Flying into dense, accurate flak and smoke and haze, the planes made a run on the target, the edge of a railroad yard in the center of the town of Langerwehe. The attack was aimed at wiping out the town. Flak was so intense that only one bomb run was made and only two flights dropped. The pattern was centered just north of the M.P.I. and extended across the main highway and buildings in the town. Fifteen aircraft received battle damage. Major Willetts and Captain Cole were the box leaders.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 163
Mission #155 - 12 October - Langerwehe town. This was another town categorized as a key transportation center in the way of advancing Allied troops heading toward Aachen. Major Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN, Captain Cole and Lt. Basnett, BN, led the boxes. Lts. Meagher and Burg, BN, and Captain Osborne and Lt. Forma BN managed to hit the target, the only two flights able to bomb. Other flights flew over cloud cover and were unable to view the aiming point.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 12th, our formation suffered considerable battle damage from the moderate to intense accurate flak surrounding the town of Langerwehe, the target. Only two flights were able to bomb because of smoke and haze. As a result we were sent back after the same town on the next day. This time the same flak was thrown up, but the bombing was better. Although there was no photo coverage of Lt. Greene's flight, the crews said that Lt. Nichols, his Bombardier, laid them in the target for good to excellent results. Captain Huff did not drop because of the cloud cover.
Only nine missions were flown by the Group during the month. Of these bombs were dropped only five times.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Major Dunn led a mission on October 8th against Linnich, Germany. This mission [No. 154] was the last flown during the month for our squadron, as on October 13th we were put on a non-operational status while our crews completed training in the new "Invader" aircraft. The 670th was the first squadron to start and to complete this training. Bad weather badly hampered the efforts of the crews to become operational in the new planes in the desired time.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
October 12th & 13th, 1944
Saturation bombing of the town of Langerwehe, 14 miles east of the besieged city of Aachen, was carried out by the 416th light bombers on the 12th and 13th of October. Poor weather prevented the Havocs from doing a complete job, but each day at least three flights were able to pick up the target and hit it with damaging results. This town stands in the way of the American forces tightening the ring around Aachen.
Major Willetts and Captain Cole led the two 671st flights on October 12th but clouds and haze obscured their targets. Captain Wheeler and Lt. Pair took over on the 13th and had better luck. The Wheeler/Arrington team connected with an excellent, their bombs destroying buildings and blocking roads. Lt. Pair, however, ran into a hazy sector and was unable to drop. Another excellent, and two goods were also scored by the three other flights which were able to bomb.
Intelligence reported 12 enemy anti-aircraft gun positions in the target area and battle damage was heavy. All crews returned.
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[October 12, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, October 12, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |