 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 162 -- November 19, 1944, Sunday PM Landau, Germany Ammunition Dump
|
 |
Previous Mission # 161 Mission List Next Mission # 163 Return to Table of Contents
|
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 162 -- November 19, 1944, Sunday PM Landau, Germany Ammunition Dump
|
|
Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 6 A-20K's, 32 A-26B's Target Ref : LANDAU AMMUNITION DUMP Illustration : 9TH AIR FORCE 2ND PHASE REPORT, U.S. 10/T 70 - AREA 1 Illustration Ref : 061032, 066029 Secondary Target : Targets of Military Value Summary of Results : Flight 2 attacked Town of Gurburg (casual), results Unknown due to cloud cover - No Attack by other flights due to 10/10 overcast. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.19622,8.12623 (49° 11' 46" N, 8° 7' 34" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Selected Town center - Landau, Germany) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 162 -- November 19, 1944, Sunday PM
Landau, Germany -- Ammunition Dump
| 1 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Heath, K. Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Lt DeMun, E.E. Sgt Kruger, C.J. |
3 669th 43-22300 2A-P A-26B Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. Cpl Dalton, A.A. |
| 4 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. Sgt Malara, V.A. |
5 669th 41-39232 2A-A A-26B Lt Kehoe, J.W. Lt Britt, J.W. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. |
6 669th 41-39240 2A-K A-26B Maj Napier, J.G. Cpl Perkins, H.W. |
| 1 668th 44-093 5H-V A-20K Capt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. S/Sgt Brown, D.M. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. |
2 668th 41-39218 5H-C A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. Sgt Geyer, J.F. |
3 668th 41-39269 5H-K A-26B Lt Jacobsen, O.F. Sgt Gooch, H.I. |
| 4 668th 41-39216 5H-Q A-26B Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
5 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
6 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. |
| 1 668th 44-108 5H-M A-20K Capt Bartmus, G.F. Lt Hardy, J.F. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. |
2 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. [Returned Early No Sortie] |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Sittarich, J.J. |
| 4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. |
5 668th 41-39214 5H-B A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
6 668th 43-22317 5H-O A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
| SPARE 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. Sgt Tharp, F.M. |
| 1 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. Sgt West, N.D. Sgt Tranchina, C.E. |
2 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Capt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. |
3 669th 41-39242 2A-Q A-26B Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Bookach, M. |
5 669th 43-22301 2A-O A-26B Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
6 670th 43-22324 F6-O A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| 1 670th 43-22063 F6-A A-20J Capt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 670th 41-39217 F6-I A-26B Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
3 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Johnson, E.L. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. |
| 4 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
5 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Heinke, W.R. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. Col Aylesworth, T.R. |
6 670th 41-39227 F6-F A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Arnett, W.E. |
| 1 671st 44-089 5C-R A-20K Lt Greenley, R.E. Lt Mitchell, R.H. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
2 671st 41-39284 5C-C A-26B Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Francis, E.C. S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
3 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
5 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
6 671st 41-39211 5C-K A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Col Meng, W.J. Sgt Elliott, F.W. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 162 -- November 19, 1944, Sunday PM
Landau, Germany -- Ammunition Dump
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The planes took off again that afternoon to fly the first two-mission day in two months. This time the target was an ammunition dump at Landau, Germany. Just east of Nancy, the formation ran into a solid bank of clouds that extended up from 5,500 feet. The formation got split up at this point and no attack was made on the primary. One flight did go in deeper and dropped through a small hole on a group of buildings, which crew members said were hit with excellent results. The planes landed in total darkness. Seven were diverted to other fields. Captain Huff, who completed his 65th mission that afternoon, Lt Kupits, B-N, and Captain Peck, Lt Madenfort, B-N, led the two boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 169 - 170
Mission #162 - 19 November - PM - Landau Airdrome. Captain Huff and Lt. Kupits, BN and Captain Peck and Lt. Madenfort BN, led boxes. Lts. Greenley and Mitchell, BN, Captain Bartmus and Lt. Hardy, BN and Lts. Meagher and Burg, BN led flights. A heavy cloud bank moved in over the target causing all planes to return to base, loaded. The formation made three attempts to drop their bombs, but the clouds did not part long enough for the BNs to zero their bombsights in on the aiming point. Captain Bartmus and Lt. "Gus" Ebenstein got reprieved from future missions, since this was their 65th, and thankfully, it was another "Milk-Run?" This was the second mission of the day with some of the crews not being able to grab dinner between flights. The usual experienced and helpful crew chiefs and their mechanics, along with armament and engineering, were able to re-load and refuel the planes to take on this hurried second trip. With the intense overcast which moved in, the flights dispersed and required some of them to land at bases other than the home base. Fortunately. this was done with no losses or mishaps.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
That afternoon Captain Huff and Captain Peck led the two boxes that took off to attack an ammunition dump at Landau. A solid bank of clouds just east of Nancy forced the formation to abandon the mission. The planes landed in total darkness. Captain Huff flew his 65th mission on this attack to complete his tour of duty.
"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
No. 2 on November 19th, 1944
While the 416th was over the target at Mersig a field order came in over the Teletype for a quick mission, briefing just a few minutes after the planes landed from the morning sortie. Several crews went without dinner to get the ships off on the second mission of the day. The target was an Ordnance Depot at Landau. The weather which had been steadily getting worse during the morning over the battle area, reached a new low when the formation approached the target and the lead navigator was unable to pick it up. After circling Metz three times the planes headed back to the base, but were split up in the overcast. Seven aircraft landed at other fields, but there were no losses. One ship received battle damage. One flight dropped their bombs on a cluster of buildings near Kutzeh, France, held by the Germans, but results were undetermined.
|
[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 |