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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 194 -- January 25, 1945, Thursday AM near Kall, Germany Road Junction
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 194 -- January 25, 1945, Thursday AM near Kall, Germany Road Junction
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 35 Total -- 9 A-20's, 25 A-26's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-165165 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Three flights scored Excellent, one Superior, one Unsatisfactory, one PNB - Flight leader's bombs released prematurely upon opening bomb doors. Three Window A-20's. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.54220,6.55846 (50° 32' 32" N, 6° 33' 30" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF165165) (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 # 194 -- January 25, 1945, Thursday AM
near Kall, Germany -- Road Junction
| 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 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
3 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. Cpl DeStefano, R. |
| 4 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
5 669th 43-22306 2A-X A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Cpl Deatherage, J.H. |
6 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt Johnson, R.K. Cpl Brandt, H.E. |
| 1 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Capt Monroe, H.A. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. Sgt Sgroi, A.P. |
2 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O. |
| 4 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Heinke, W.R. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. |
5 670th No Aircraft Lt Cook, J.A. Sgt Langley, T.R. [No A/C] |
6 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B F/O Green, J.A. Sgt Kubjalko, A. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Singletary, R.B. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G. Sgt Kamischke, R.J. |
2 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Burger, L.C. [Returned Early Nose Wheel Would Not Retract] |
3 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
| 4 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Grunig, D.B. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. |
5 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. Cpl Willever, E.J. |
6 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Hudnutt, L.W. [Not Airborne Turret Inoperative] |
| 1 668th 43-22026 5H-M A-20J Lt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. S/Sgt Collier, C.B. Cpl Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 43-22063 5H-A A-20J Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. |
3 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Chest, D. Sgt Creeden, E.J. |
| 1 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Capt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
2 668th 41-39331 5H-C A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Cpl Klingman, W.H. [Not Airborne Left Prop Governor Out] |
3 668th No Aircraft Capt Behlmer, R.L. Cpl Brinkman, E.R. [No A/C] |
| 4 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. Lt Britt, J.W. Cpl Hinker, C.V. |
6 668th 41-39349 5H-B A-26B Lt Poundstone, L.E. Pvt Arendt, E.A. |
| 1 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. |
2 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
3 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. Cpl Musarra, A.J. |
| 4 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
5 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. |
6 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
| 1 671st 44-106 5C-E A-20K Capt Greenley, R.E. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
2 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
3 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. [Not Airborne Pilot Reported Brakes Creeping. Checked OK] |
| 4 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Merchant, W.A. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. |
5 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Cpl Hardin, M.F. |
6 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Cpl Pompa, P.A. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 194 -- January 25, 1945, Thursday AM
near Kall, Germany -- Road Junction
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Flying our seventh mission in five days, a formation of 27 aircraft, led by Captains Hulse and Stebbins, attacked road junctions at Kall, Germany, southwest of Cologne. They scored excellent to superior results on this point. The bombs completely blanketed the road junction, damaged buildings, the road and rail line, and a railroad siding where 20 goods wagons were probably destroyed.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 199 - 200
Mission #194 - 25 January - Kall Railroad Junction. Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led Box I Captain Stebbins and Lt. Calloway, BN led Box II. Captain McNulty and Lt. Forma, BN and Captain Greenley and Lt. Basnett, BN led flights. On the bomb run, Captain McNulty's bombs fell out of the plane when the bomb bay doors opened, causing the bombs to fall way short of the target. Superior rating for the first box and three excellents were also scored. A convoy of enemy vehicles were on the road near the target and they were blanketed in a cloud of smoke and fire from the bombs being dropped.
"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.
GP Mission # 194 got off early in the afternoon today. The mixture of A-26’s and A-20’s climbed into the blue loaded with 500 lb. GP’s. From our squadron came a flight of six led by Capt. McNulty, with Lt. Forma as B/N with Gunners Fuehrer and Lagerman. Lt’s Stanley and Parker flew ahead of the formation as "window" ships. Our crews formed the second flight of the second box.
Another Communications Center [actually, communication line] at Kall was on the receiving end of the bombardment. The trip over was very uneventful, neither flak nor fighters challenged the formation. The target was clear in the bombardier’s sights, and the bombs were dropped with accuracy. The bombs were seen to chase a small German convoy along the road leading to the town. Gunners reported that the enemy vehicles disappeared under a blanket of smoke after the attack. The formation left the bomb run and headed back to the base, again in complete safety. Landing was made after a flight of 3:45.
The results were of high standard. Clearly marked strike photos gave the Group
3—excellents; 1 – superior; 1—P.N.B.; and one unsatisfactory. Upon opening the bomb doors of his plane, McNulty’s bombs fell out and the rest of the flight bombed with this. The results were the bombs fell way short of the target.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Another very successful mission on the 25th was led by the 669th--Captain Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N, in the first box, and Captain Stebbins, Lt. Callaway [Calloway], B-N, in the second box. Lieutenant Conte scored an excellent and Lieutenant Callaway [Calloway], a superior. The road junction was blanketed; buildings, rail lines, and a rail siding were hit. It was estimated that about 20 freight cars were destroyed.
Despite the bad weather, our attacks had been very successful and the Group's bombing record again was the best in the Bomber Division for accuracy within 1,000 feet of the target. The counter-attack of the Germans was definitely stopped and our troops had already begun to push back into Germany.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The communications center at Kall, Germany, were attacked on the 25th of January. Superior bombing completely blanketed the road junction, damaged buildings and the railroad lines and sidings. Nine of our crews took part.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
The 416th Invaders were out "road-blocking" again on January 25th in an effort to create another bottleneck of German motor transport retreating out of Von RundstedtĆs salient. Six flights dropped their loads of 500 pounders on the town of Kall with damaging results. Hits were scored on railroad tracks, highways and buildings in the area. The Group received one superior and three excellents, while the two other flights bombed roads and tracks a short distance from the primary with good results. Captain Greenley and Lt. Basnett, representing the 671st Squadron chalked up an excellent. Weak flak was encountered and all ships and crews returned safely.
S/Sgt.Chester R. Orvold, who has been chief gunner since the 416th left England, made this mission his last one, flying No. 51 with Captain Greenley. S/Sgt. Orvold, along with his engineer gunner, S/Sgt.Di Martino, who finished his tour on January 23rd, flew the majority of his missions with Lt.C.L.Estes.
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[January 25, 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 25, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |