Loading List 1, Box I




Loading List 2, Box II




Loading List 3, Box III




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wQ203938
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet U1 - "Neunkirchen" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - Army Map Service Topographic Map Series,
Central Europe, Series M641, 1:100,000, U.S. Army Map Service, 1943-,
Neunkirchen sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 161 -- November 19, 1944, Sunday AM
Merzig (Area C), Germany -- Area Bombing

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

Our planes took off for the third day running when they attacked a troop concentration at Merzig on the morning of the 19th. It was an all-out effort in support of General Patton's Third Army troops, with 48 planes participating. The formation was forced down to 6,000 feet by the clouds, but the bombing was excellent. A TWX of commendation was received from General Vandenberg and General Anderson. The three boxes that made the attack were led by Major Price, Lt Hand, B-N, Captain Osborne, Lt Forma, B-N, and Captain Hulse, Lt Conte, B-N.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 168 - 169

Mission #161 - 19 November - Merzig Troop Concentration. Three boxes were assigned this important target to open the way for ground forces to advance. The results were excellent, with commendations received from Commanding General of the XIX TAC Corps and General Anderson of Ninth Bomber Command, congratulating the group for its assistance in ground troop advances. Major Price and Lt. Hand, BN and Captain Osborne with Lt. Forma BN and Captain Hulse with Lt. Conte, BN led the boxes. Conte had to make three runs at the target due to cloud cover, but finally zeroed in on the aiming point, as did the other BNs. Lts. Pair and Corum BN and Captain Cole and Lt. Basnett, BN led flights successfully. No flak or fighters bothered the group, making this a "milk-run."

Lieutenant General Patton wrote a congratulatory letter to Ninth Air Force, as follows:

The splendid bombing on the German Town of Merzig on the morning of November 19 by over 160 medium bombers of your command is producing excellent results. This bombing, coupled with your afternoon effort on the ordnance depot at Pirmasens, I am certain will materially assist this Army in cracking the Siegfried Line and defeating the German Nation.

The willingness of your airmen to go in against heavily defended targets is an inspiration to this Army.

For all of the officers and men of the 3rd USARMY, I wish to express to you our admiration for your magnificent efforts and we express our appreciation for your cooperation.

This letter was endorsed by Lieutenant General Bradley, Major General Vandenberg, Commanding General of the Ninth AirForce, and Major General Anderson wrote:

It is a great pleasure for me to add to the above message my own commendation to each combat crew and all ground personnel who have in any way contributed to this offensive for their courage, loyalty and efficient performance in a most hazardous task.

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

In the morning of the 19th, Captain Hulse led a box in an all-out effort against troop concentrations at Merzig. Lt. Greene led a flight. The results brought a commendation from Generals Vandenberg and Anderson.

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Two missions were flown on November 19th, making a busy three-day introduction for the new "Invaders". Twelve of our crews participated in a morning attack on Merzig, Germany, strongpoints, which included a storage depot, a railroad bridge, and the defended locality. Because of weather, crews were forced to bomb from 6,000 feet.

Recognition for excellent bombing on November 15th [19th] was received by our Division's units during the week in form of a letter from Lieutenant General Patton. The letter was endorsed by Lieutenant General Bradley, Commanding General, 12th Army, Major General Vandenberg, Commanding General, Ninth Air Force, and Major General Anderson who sent it to the various Groups. It read as follows:

The splendid bombing on the German town of Merzig on the morning of 19 November by over 160 medium bombers of your command is producing excellent results. This bombing, coupled with your afternoon effort on the ordnance depot at Pirmasens, I am certain will materially assist this army in cracking the Siegfred Line and defeating the German nation.

The willingness of your airmen to go in against heavily defended targets is an inspiration to this Army.

For all of the officers and men of the 3rd US Army I wish to express to you our appreciation for your cooperation and our admiration for your magnificent efforts.

In endorsing the letter General Bradley wrote "I take great pleasure in forwarding the foregoing letter from General Patton and wish to add my own appreciation of a job well done."

General Anderson in transmitting the letter wrote "It is a great pleasure for me to add to the above message my own commendation to each combat crew and all ground personnel who have in any way contributed to this offensive for their courage, loyalty and efficient performance in a most important and hazardous task."

The afternoon mission, of which there were seven of our crews, was against the Landau ordnance depot, but the weather prevented identification of the target, so no bombs were dropped.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

November 19th, 1944

A job of excellent and exact bombing which received the special commendation of General Vandenberg, CG of the Ninth Air Force, was turned in by the 416th Bomb Group on the morning of November 19th, 1944 against strong points in the Mersig area, east of Metz. Three Marauder groups were dispatched at the same target also and the combined results enabled the Third American Army to advance.

Three boxes were employed by the 416th Group, 41 A-26 Invaders and 8 A-20Ks. Forty-seven dropped their bombs on and in the vicinity of the primary on the area-bombing mission. Lt. Pair and Lt. Corum, leading the second flight in the second box, had the top scoring flight of the Group. All their bombs fell in the target area, a long pattern starting at the western edge and running across the area. Three other excellent were chalked up, with another possible.

The formation had to go over the target area from 6000 to 6200 feet. Weak inaccurate heavy and light flak was encountered, two aircraft receiving battle damage.

The following teletype message was received by the Commanding General of the Ninth Air Force from the CG of the XIX Tac: "ATTACK WAS OBSERVED TODAY BY OFFICERS THIS COMMAND ON MERZIG AND ADJACENT SIEGFRIED LINE DEFENSES. BOMBING OF YOUR GROUPS OF NINTH BOMB DIVISION WAS EXCELLENT AND ACCURATE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT GREAT ASSISTANCE WILL BE RENDERED TO ADVANCE OF THIRD ARMY BY THE RESULTS." This message was relayed to the 416th Bomb Group with the following notation by General Anderson: " I ADD MY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE OF GENERAL VANENBERG FOR THESE EXCELLENT MISSIONS."

[November 19, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, November 19, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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