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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 187 -- January 16, 1945, Tuesday PM Sinzig, Germany Railroad Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 187 -- January 16, 1945, Tuesday PM Sinzig, Germany Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 9 A-20's, 26 A-26's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-658172 Illustration : 5007E/4 Illustration Ref : 072030 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Scores Excellent and Superior, three A-20's dropped Window. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.55231,7.25410 (50° 33' 8" N, 7° 15' 15" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo. Briefed Target MBS Coord: (NGZ) wF658172) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 1945 Tuesday |
No_Report | 41-39244 A-26B |
187 | 669 | A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France | Poundstone, Leo E. (WIA)
Richardson, Lutie L. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 187 -- January 16, 1945, Tuesday PM
Sinzig, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
| 1 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Kenny, J.P. Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
4 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. S/Sgt Skeens, C.L. |
| 1 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. S/Sgt Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
2 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. Cpl Dalton, A.A. |
3 669th 43-22306 2A-N A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. Cpl Sumner, W.R., Jr. |
| 4 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Cpl Hawk, O.T. |
| 1 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
2 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. Sgt Graham, N.M. |
3 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Cpl Newman, F. |
| 4 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
| 1 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt VanGalder, D.W. |
2 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Buchanan, R.C. Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
3 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. Cpl Spence, J.I. |
| 4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
| SPARE 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Parker, P.E. Cpl Edenburn, J.C. |
| 1 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. Cpl Gross, V.F. |
2 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. Cpl Messinger, R.W. |
3 668th 43-22026 5H-M A-20J Lt Johnson, E.L. Cpl Plant, R. S/Sgt Burger, L.C. |
| 1 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Capt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. S/Sgt Blackford, D.S. |
2 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Capt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Lt Ackerson, D.G. Cpl Friday, L.R. Sgt Collier, J.L. |
3 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Errotabere, M. Cpl Lynch, P.R. |
| 1 671st 44-185 5C-G A-20K Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Beck, J.T. Sgt Wood, W.D. Cpl Schwartzapel, D. |
2 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Gary, J.C. S/Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
3 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
| 4 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Merchant, W.A. Cpl McNellis, D.E. |
| 1 670th 41-39222 F6-S A-26B Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt Caudell, S.R. |
2 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C. |
| 4 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Merritt, T.S. Sgt Basile, A.C. |
| 1 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Poundstone, L.E. Sgt Richardson, L.L. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Johnson, R.K. Cpl Brandt, H.E. |
| 4 670th 43-22296 F6-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. Cpl Redding, R.D. |
| SPARE 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Cpl Pompa, P.A. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 187 -- January 16, 1945, Tuesday PM
Sinzig, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Taking off for the fourth straight day on the 16th, 32 planes attacked the Sinzig railroad bridge. Bombing was done by boxes led by Capt McNulty, Lt Forma, B-N, and Captain Monroe, Lt Kirk, B-N. The bombs covered the S.E. approach to the bridge and cut the tracks, but the bridge remained standing. Weak, heavy flak was encountered along the route and ten aircraft suffered category "A" battle damage, and two, category "AC" damage.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 194 - 195
Mission #187 - 16 January - Sinzig Bridge. Captain McNulty
and Lt. Forma BN, headed up Box I with Captain Evans and F/O
McCartney, BN. Captain Monroe and Lt. Kirk, BN plus Captain
Tutt and Lt. Peck, BN plus Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN leading
flights. En route to the target, light accurate flak came up. At the
target, moderate, more accurate flak met the boys. Bombing
scored a superior for the Box II BN and Excellent for the Box I
BN. The bombs destroyed an approach to the bridge and cut the
tracks leading to the bridge, but the bridge still remained in tact.
Extensive damage was reported on the marshalling yard adjacent
to the bridge approaches. Ten aircraft suffered damage from
flak, but no personnel injuries.
First Sergeant Combs of the 670th Squadron received a
letter from the mother of S/Sgt Gossett who was shot down in
October, 1944, stating that her son wrote from a prison camp and
is a POW. That sounds like good news, but also not so good. At
least, he's alive.
Another pilot and his gunner were sent up to the front
lines as Air Liaison Officer. Captain Harrold, West Point Grad
and his gunner, S/Sgt. Burns made the trip. Real lousy weather
consisting of ice and snow kept all planes grounded for five days.
More of our crews were assigned to the front lines for experience
and liaison. They all appeared glad to be in the flying corps,
compared with the fighting ground forces. When we had ground
forces with us, flying missions, they all never felt safe up in the
air, and preferred to be on the ground. They said they had no
place to hide when the firing started.
A group of P-51 fighter pilots stayed with our group for
a few days since they could not get to their bases in England.
Ours was a diversionary airfield for them. Needless to say,
friendships resulted, and when they left our base, they put on a
BUZZ Job which were at once thrilling, and at the same time,
wondering why would they be so wild. The show was a great
enjoyment to onlookers, they barely topped haystacks and building
roofs, but they must have known what they were doing.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Other outstanding missions during the month include the attack on Benzig rail bridge 16 January, on which Captain McNulty and Lt. Forma scored an Excellent and Captain Evans and F/O McCartney a Superior; the sortie against Euskirchen bridge 21 January for which Captain Stanley and F/O Blount were given a Superior; and the assault upon the Communications Center of Schleiden, 24 January, which marked the 19th consecutive Excellent for Lt. Arvid R. Hand, veteran Bombardier whose pilot is Major Robert F. Price, Squadron Commander.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 15th and 16th, the Simmern Railway Bridge was again
attacked. The results on both missions were undetermined but the
bridge was still standing when viewed by reconnaisance later. However
the approach to the bridge was out.
A letter was received 16 January by F/Sgt Combs from S/Sgt
Gossett's mother telling that her son wrote her from a prison camp in
Germany. This was the first word the squadron received since S/Sgt
Gossett was missing in action in October of 1944.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
January 16th, 1945
Continuing its war against bridges to isolate the battle areas from German supplies, the A-55 Invaders dropped approximately 75 tons of bombs on the Sinzig Railroad bridge with excellent and superior results on January 16th, 1945. The mission took off as Pathfinder, but when clear skies were present in the target area, the Group box leaders took over. The first box received an excellent rating and the second box annexed a superior. The bombs hit on the tracks and on the bridge approach, but the bridge was left standing. Flak was encountered in the target area, but all the aircraft returned to base.
This mission on January 16th was the 51st for S/Sgt. Raymond J. Jones. He finished up flying with his pilot Lt. T.J. Murray. S/Sgt. Jones left A-55 on January 25 for Paris, England, and the U.S.A.
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[January 16, 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 16, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |