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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 183 -- January 11, 1945, Thursday AM Simmern, Germany Railroad Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 183 -- January 11, 1945, Thursday AM Simmern, Germany Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 28 Total -- 6 A-20's, 21 A-26's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: L-839530 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Attacked Alzey (Casual), Unobserved results. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.97664,7.51258 (49° 58' 36" N, 7° 30' 45" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wL839530) (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 # 183 -- January 11, 1945, Thursday AM
Simmern, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
| 1 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. Sgt Kruger, C.J. |
2 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Greenley, R.E. Lt Basnett, R.J. Cpl Gross, V.F. S/Sgt Hinson, A.H. |
3 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. S/Sgt Malara, V.A. Maj Franck, H.A. [Franck (Ninth AF)] |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Beck, J.T. Sgt Wood, W.D. Cpl Schwartzapel, D. [Not Airborne] |
2 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. S/Sgt Arnett, W.E. [Not Airborne] |
3 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. [Not Airborne] |
| 1 671st 44-106 5C-E A-20K Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
2 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. [Not Airborne Engine Cutting Out On Run-Up] |
3 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. |
| 4 671st 41-39284 5C-C A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
5 671st 41-39211 5C-K A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Cpl Messinger, R.W. |
6 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Eastman, D.M. S/Sgt Eaton, A.B. [Returned Early No Sortie Nose Wheel Down - Air Speed Indicator Froze Up] |
| 1 671st 44-185 5C-G A-20K Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. S/Sgt Miller, H.K. |
2 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Rojas, A.A. |
3 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Gary, J.C. S/Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
| 4 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
5 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Cpl Pompa, P.A. [Not Airborne Left Brake Frozen] |
6 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Cpl Helt, A. [Returned Early No Sortie Nose Wheel Down - Left Oil Pres. Reg. 200# - Could Not Stay in Formation] |
| SPARE 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Cpl Hawk, O.T. |
| 1 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Capt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
2 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Street, M.S. Lt Anderson, C.M. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
3 669th 41-39238 2A-M A-26B Lt Butler, G.S. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. [Not Airborne Right Oil Cooler Shutter Froze] |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. S/Sgt Scott, G.B. [Scott (Ninth AF)] |
5 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. Cpl DeStefano, R. |
6 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Johnson, R.K. Cpl Brandt, H.E. |
| 1 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. Cpl Fidler, W.H. |
2 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Gandy, R.S. |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Kenny, J.P. S/Sgt Sittarich, J.J. |
| 4 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. Sgt Williford, C.W. |
5 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. Sgt Pauker, J.L. |
6 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
| 1 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Burger, L.C. Lt Porter, C.C. [Porter (Ninth AF)] |
2 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. Sgt Paladino, D.V. [Not Airborne] |
3 670th 41-39222 F6-S A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O. [Not Airborne] |
| 4 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Grunig, D.B. S/Sgt Dias, M.E. [Not Airborne] |
5 670th 43-22296 F6-D A-26B Lt Errotabere, M. Cpl Bowie, E.A. [Not Airborne] |
6 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. [Not Airborne] |
| SPARE 669th 43-22367 2A-K A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. Cpl Hinker, C.V. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 183 -- January 11, 1945, Thursday AM
Simmern, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Again, on the 11th, the Simmern railroad bridge was to be attacked, using PPF technique. An equipment failure forced the PPF plane to seek a casual target to attack. "Gee" fixes taken by our planes located this casual target at Alzey, Germany--a marshalling yard. The bombs missed the yards but completely severed a highway. The PPF plane chose a casual target after two bombing runs on the primary target. The box leaders were Captain Hulse, Lt Conte, B-N, and Captain Stebbins, Lt Calloway, B-N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 192 - 193
Mission #183 - 11 January - Simmern Bridge Again. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led Box I with Captain Stebbins and Lt. Calloway, BN on Box II. Flight leaders were Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN,= Lts. Greenley and Basnett, BN and Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN. PFF pathfinder equipment failed so lead BNs used GEE equipment to bomb secondary targets at Alsey, Germany, severing a major highway. The cold temperatures were evident to the crews, getting down to 27 degrees below zero. Did we say that no heaters were normal equipment for the A-20s? Frost bite was the next thing to worry about. The silk gloves, paper wrapping in our shoes, and fur lined boots, helped just a little. Cold is cold at 27 below!
"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.
We finally got a break in our inactive status today, and flew GP Mission # 183. Anticipating cloud coverage, B-26’s led this PFF mission. The target was the R.R. Bridge at Simmern. From our squadron came a flight of six planes, led by the B/N Team of Andersen & Babbage. The primary target was not bombed for some reason, so the secondary target was hit. The results were tabulated as follows; P.N.B. – PFF. All crews returned safely after a trip of 4:00. This was the only activity for the day.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 11 January, the same [Simmern railroad] bridge was the primary target of another PFF sortie. Due to navigational difficulties, the formation bypassed the primary and bombed its secondary objective.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the eleventh, Captain Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N, and Captain Stebbins, Lt. Calloway, B-N, led the two boxes in an attack on the Simmern bridge again. This time a solid cloud cover hung over the target, and it was necessary to bomb on a PPF plane. An equipment failure in the PPF plane prevented it from attacking the primary target. He chose a marshalling yard at Alzey for his secondary.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Simmern Railway Bridge was again our target on the 11th of January, using pathfinder. Due to equipment failure, the bridge was not attacked and a secondary target bombed. The marshalling yard and highway at Alzey, Germany were badly damaged.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Twenty-eight aircraft were dispatched mid-day on January 11th to again hit the Simmern rail bridge, still on the only line from Koblenz to the battlefront. One Pathfinder ship was used, but its equipment failed over the primary. The PFF Bombardier selected railroad tracks near the town of Alsey and the Invaders dropped on his lead. Results were just fair.
The crews at their bombing level reported a temperature of 27— below zero, and all the men had a slight touch of frostbite. Weak flak was seen, but all the ships returned without battle damage.
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[January 11, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, January 11, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |