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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 166 -- December 6, 1944, Wednesday AM Erkelenz, Germany Defended Area
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 166 -- December 6, 1944, Wednesday AM Erkelenz, Germany Defended Area
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 11 A-20K's, 26 A-26B's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-006767 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Three Window ships, Bombing results unobserved due to cloud cover. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.08105,6.31804 (51° 4' 52" N, 6° 19' 5" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF006767) (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 # 166 -- December 6, 1944, Wednesday AM
Erkelenz, Germany -- Defended Area
| 1 670th 44-076 F6-Q A-20K Lt Col Meng, W.J. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. S/Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
3 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. Cpl Reid, K.A. |
| 1 671st 44-106 5C-E A-20K Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. Pfc Rapacz, H.S. [Rapacz (4th CCU)] |
2 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
3 671st 41-39284 5C-C A-26B Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. |
| 4 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Tutt, R.J. Cpl Schwartzapel, D. |
| 1 671st 44-089 5C-R A-20K Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. Sgt Miller, H.K. |
2 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Coulombe, P.E. |
3 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
| 4 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Zubon, M. Cpl Gross, V.F. [Returned Early Short in _____ [?] plug causing fire in cockpit] |
| 1 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Lt Shea, D.F. Lt Koch, O.R. Sgt Urbanicio, F.R. Cpl Hayes, R.J. |
2 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
3 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Hall, M. |
| 4 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39242 2A-Q A-26B Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. |
| 1 671st 44-560 5C-X A-20K Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. Cpl Torres, I. |
2 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. |
3 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Lt Renth, E.J., Jr. Sgt Moskowitz, L. Sgt Brinkman, E.R. |
| 1 669th 44-178 2A-L A-20K Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Capt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. Cpl Rorbakken, R.R. |
3 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
| 4 669th 41-39240 2A-K A-26B Lt Kehoe, J.W. Cpl Richardson, L.L. [Returned Early - Smoke in radio compartment - cannon plug on camera shorted ____ [?] burning insullation off wires. [Unreadable]] |
5 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. |
6 669th 43-22300 2A-P A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Cpl Graham, R.F. |
| 1 668th 44-108 5H-M A-20K Lt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Sgt Collier, C.B. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
2 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. [Not Airborne Throttle Locked] |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Sittarich, J.J. |
| 4 668th 41-39216 5H-Q A-26B Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
5 668th 41-39214 5H-B A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. Sgt Rivard, C.J. |
6 668th 41-39269 5H-K A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
| 1 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. Cpl Kubjalko, A. Capt Lane, C.H. [Lane (97th WG)] |
2 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. |
3 670th 41-39227 F6-F A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O. |
| 4 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Ostrander, W.B. Cpl Kamischke, R.J. Lt Friedrichs, L.G. [Friedrichs (97th WG)] |
5 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. Sgt Belcas, J.O. |
6 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Murphy, T.A. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
| SPARE 668th 41-39218 5H-C A-26B Capt Shaefer, R.F. Capt Fontaine, R.A., Jr. Lt Col Aylesworth, T.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 166 -- December 6, 1944, Wednesday AM
Erkelenz, Germany -- Defended Area
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The following day, the 6th, the defended village of Erkelenz was attacked with 500-pound bombs. A 9/10th cloud cover forced the formation to bomb on a PPF plane. The results were unobserved. The formation encountered some meager flak at the bombline and at the target. The box leaders were Lt. Col. Meng, Lt. Powell, B-N, and Capt. Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 174 - 175
Mission #166 - 6 December - Erkelenz, Germany. Pathfinder B-26s had to lead the boxes due to cloud cover, which is becoming an everyday occurrence, but bombs were dropped anyway with unobserved results. Flights were led by Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN, - Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN, - Lts. Buskirk and Hanna, BN and Lt. Stanley with F/O Blount, BN. Bombing was at 13,000 feet - no flak or fighters bothered the group. Captain Cole of the 671st squadron wound up his 65th mission by flying a window dropping ship. S/Sgt. Horace Wellin, also of the 671st flew his 65th mission today.
Sometimes its difficult to understand everything that goes on. New pilots were being transferred to our group and some pilots were leaving the 416th to go to the 410th group.
The STARS AND STRIPES carried an item in their 8 December issue about the newest addition to our group, the A-26, and repeating Lt. McGlohn's description as it being "a dream ship."
"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.
Today’s mission is very near identical to yesterday’s mission. This was Group Mission #166, with six crews from this squadron. Leading our flight in an A-20K was Lt. Stanley, with F/O Blount as Bombardier, and Gunners Collier and Brzezinski manning the .50 cals. Flying in formation with them were; Lt’s Meredith, Kenny, Annin, Prucha. The Group "wheels" were along too, with Capt. Shaefer, Col. Aylesworth, and Capt. Fontaine in A-26B # 218.
Erkelenz, Germany, another defended village was the picture seen through the bombsight. Again this was a PFF mission, and bombing was don thru the clouds. The bombing was done by boxes from 13,000, and 154 x 500 lb. GP’s hurtled thru the clouds to fall on the target. There was little flak, and no fighter action present, and the formation returned to the base for the day.
I learned today that we are losing two bombardiers from this squadron. Both 2nd Lt. J.F. Hardy, and 2nd Lt. B.C. Morris are transferring to the 410th Bomb Gp. Rumor has it that they will go on special duty with this mixed bomb group.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Again on the sixth pathfinder was used in the bombing attack on Erkelenz, another defended village. Only meager flak opposition was encountered. Although the results of the five hundred pound bombs were unobserved, photo reconnaisance the following day showed that superior results were obtained. Half the buildings in the north end of the town were damaged or destroyed and all ten railroad lines in the town were damaged.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
With the 416th Invaders again taking advantage of Pathfinders, another highly important defended town was plastered with bombs mid-day on December 6th, 1944. The A-26s hit Erkelents, a town of 6,000-population 20miles northwest of Duren. It is five miles inside the German defense line and is in the path of the U.S. 9th and British 21st Armies. There was no photo coverage or visual observation of results due to cloud cover, but lead crews reported bomb releases perfectly timed with the Pathfinders.
This mission was the means for another veteran 671st pilot to finish up his tour with 65 missions. Lt.Ronald D.Perkins, who joined the Squadron in Lake Charles, had been on some of the rougher of the Groups missions, but classed his finale as a milk run.
There were no losses, casualties or battle damage.
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[December 6, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, December 6, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |