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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 168 -- December 9, 1944, Saturday AM Saarwellingen, Germany Defended Village
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 168 -- December 9, 1944, Saturday AM Saarwellingen, Germany Defended Village
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 9 A-20J's & K's, 29 A-26B's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Target Ref : SAARWELLINGEN DEFENDED VILLAGE Illustration : G.S.G.S. 4414, SHEET NO. 6606 Illustration Ref : 327846 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Unobserved - 10/10's over target area. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.35771,6.81003 (49° 21' 28" N, 6° 48' 36" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wQ327846) (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 # 168 -- December 9, 1944, Saturday AM
Saarwellingen, Germany -- Defended Village
| 1 671st 44-106 5C-E A-20K Lt Col Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. S/Sgt Fessler, H.S. |
2 669th 44-178 2A-L A-20K Capt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Carstens, R.W. S/Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
3 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Lt Jokinen, W.R. Cpl McNellis, D.E. |
| 1 670th 44-076 F6-Q A-20K Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
2 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Melchoir, F.E. |
| 4 669th 41-39242 2A-Q A-26B Lt Greene, W.J. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
5 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Cpl Koons, H.A. |
6 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. Cpl Draft, L.B. |
| 1 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Capt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
2 669th 43-22301 2A-O A-26B Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. |
3 669th 43-22300 2A-P A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. Sgt Walters, J.H. |
| 4 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Maj Napier, J.G. Cpl Richardson, L.L. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Cpl Graham, R.F. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
6 670th 43-22296 F6-D A-26B Lt VanMeter, G.C., Jr. Cpl Kirik, S.J. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
| SPARE 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. |
| 1 671st 44-185 5C-G A-20K Capt Marzolf, L.A. Lt Beck, J.T. Sgt Creeden, E.J. Sgt Davis, L.E. |
2 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
3 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt DiOrio, F.M. Lt Col McAfee, J.B. [McAfee (97th CBW)] |
| 4 671st 41-39284 5C-C A-26B Lt Zubon, M. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Tutt, R.J. Sgt Wood, W.D. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
6 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Cpl Schumacher, R.C. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Lt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Sgt Collier, C.B. |
2 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
3 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
| 4 668th 43-22302 5H-D A-26B Lt Evans, H.M. Sgt Skeens, C.L. |
5 668th 41-39269 5H-K A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
6 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Buchanan, R.C. Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
| 1 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. Sgt Langley, T.R. |
2 670th 41-39217 F6-I A-26B Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Dias, M.E. |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Jackson, W.S. |
| 4 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Johnson, E.L. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. |
5 670th 41-39227 F6-F A-26B Lt Merritt, T.S. S/Sgt Gatti, R.J. |
6 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
| SPARE 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. [Returned Early Lost Formation No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Capt Harrold, F.J., Jr. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. Sgt Caudell, S.R. Sgt Urbanicio, F.R. [Window Ships Did Not Cross Bomb Line] |
2 671st 44-560 5C-X A-20K Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. Sgt Skelton, T.W. [Window Ships Did Not Cross Bomb Line] |
3 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. Cpl Torres, I. [Window Ships Did Not Cross Bomb Line] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 168 -- December 9, 1944, Saturday AM
Saarwellingen, Germany -- Defended Village
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Two missions were flown on the 9th. In the morning, using PPF, the town of Saarwellin was attacked. Lt. Col Willetts and Capt. Marzolf led the boxes. Results were unobserved, however, because of the solid cloud cover.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 175 - 176
Mission #168 - 9 December - AM - Saarwellengen Supply Depot. This area was well equipped with heavy artillery and means to deter any Allied Forces, situated a little over a mile away, from advancing. Unfortunately, a heavy cloud cover prevented eye contact with the target, so bombing was done by PFF Pathfinders. The weather was extremely cold, with some icing forming on our planes, interfering with flying under ideal conditions. Not long after our formation took off from A-55, an armada of heavies flew over our base on the way to Germany. The temperature up there must have been well below zero temperature, since condensation trails followed the big boys, in an illustrious pattern against the blue sky. A treat to see, but the German flak gunners could also see them and gave a good aiming point for their experienced men to cut their fuses with accuracy. The formation of heavies was so great, it took over 20 minutes for all the planes to pass overhead. On our mission our bombers let their bombs go through clouds, with unobserved results. Lt. Col. Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led this mission with Captain Marzolf and Lt. Beck, BN leading a flight.
"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.
We were fortunate today in accomplishing two missions. The formation took off this morning at 0900, marking Group Mission # 168. The sky overhead was blue and cold, with unlimited ceiling. After our planes had departed on their assignment, we beheld an awe-inspiring scene. Wave upon wave of heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, passed over the field at high altitude. Each plane left a "vapor trail" in its wake making a beautiful lacy pattern against the blue sky. This is deadly as well as beautiful, as it is a dead give-away to enemy ack-ack gunners. The formation paused over for at least twenty minutes, and an estimate of strength was made at over 500.
From this squadron came six crews, to form a flight, and it was led by B/N Team of Andersen & Babbage. Flying in flight formation were; Lt’s Evans, Cannon, McCready, Prucha, and Buchanan.
Using PFF bombing technique, the target to feel the weight and destruction of our missiles was the defended locality of Saarwellington, Germany. A enemy supply point her, defended by heavy German Artillery fire, which pinned down movement of an American Infantry division nearby, was struck with force. The bombing was done from over 13,000 feet, and 153 x 500 lb. GP’s were dropped.
The results "undetermined" as no photo coverage or visual observation were possible due to clouds. All planes returned to the base unharmed, logging 3:00.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The following day, 9 December, two missions were flown, both using pathfinder technique. The morning mission was an attack on the town of Saarwellin in which seven of our crews participated. Results were unobserved. In the afternoon the defended village of Dilsburg was the target. Pathfinder equipment failure prevented the fulfillment of the mission so no attack was made. Visual bombing could not be tried because of heavy cloud cover over the target area.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Bombing with the aid of pathfinders only a short distance in front of Third Army doughboys, the 416th attacked Saarwellingen, a supply point defended by heavy German artillery fire which has pinned down movement of an American infantry division only 3,500 yards away. Solid overcast and icing conditions made the mission a rough one, and several of the aircraft failed to bomb. No photo coverage or visual observation was possible due to the 10/10 clouds.
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[December 9, 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 9, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |