416th BG Mission 197

Missing Air Crew Reports, Aircraft Accident Reports, and other incidents
Date	Report		A/C Serial # Type	Mis- sion #	Bomb Sq	Location	Personnel (Status when available)
Feb 2, 1945 Friday	No_Report		43-22024 A-20J	197	669	AAF Station A-78, Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium	Smith, Daniel E. (Not Injured) DeStefano, Richard (KIA) Abriola, Daniel Ralph (MIA, POW, RMC, RTD)

Mission # 197 -- February 2, 1945, Friday AM
Euskirchen, Germany -- Supply Center

Box I -- Flight I
1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Maj Price, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. S/Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L.	2 668th 43-22063 5H-A A-20J Lt Mish, C.C. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Roberts, J.H. S/Sgt Euga, P.G.	3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J.
4 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt VanGalder, D.W.	5 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C.	6 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Sgt Gentry, F., Jr.

Box I -- Flight II
1 669th 44-178 2A-L A-20K Capt Shea, D.F. Lt Koch, O.R. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. S/Sgt Teran, A.	2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C.	3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J.
4 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J.	5 670th 43-22337 F6-O A-26B Lt Cook, J.A. Sgt Langley, T.R.	6 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A.

Box I -- Flight III
1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Rooney, R.J. Lt Kirk, R.L. Sgt Caudell, S.R. Sgt Raccio, V.B. [Not Airborne]	2 670th 44-073 F6-J A-20K Lt Grunig, D.B. Lt Morris, B.C. S/Sgt Dias, M.E. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr.	3 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr.
4 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Burger, L.C.	5 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Licker, M.	6 670th 41-39321 F6-V A-26B F/O Green, J.A. Sgt Kubjalko, A.

Box I
SPARE 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Sgt Helt, A. [Landed at A-69 Fire in Cockpit]

Box II -- Flight I
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.	2 668th 43-22026 5H-M A-20J Lt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. S/Sgt Collier, C.B. Sgt Edenburn, J.C.	3 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Hood, A.R.
4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W.	5 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H.	6 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. Sgt Williford, C.W.

Box II -- Flight II
1 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. Sgt West, N.D. Sgt Tranchina, C.E.	2 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Jordan, C.S. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F.	3 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Turner, D.O., Jr. S/Sgt Reyes, M.R.
4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. S/Sgt Triber, H.I.	5 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Sgt Hawk, O.T.	6 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Farley, J.J. Sgt Hardesty, E.R.

Box II -- Flight III
1 671st 44-185 5C-G A-20K Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. S/Sgt Rio, D.J.	2 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. S/Sgt Steffey, R.I.	3 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M.
4 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Merchant, W.A. Sgt Berkes, E.F.	5 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Graub, R.E.	6 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Chest, D.

Box II
SPARE 669th 43-22306 2A-X A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Sgt Deatherage, J.H.

Box II -- Flight WINDOW
1 671st 43-21710 5C-Y A-20J Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. Sgt Kimball, A.H.	2 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Henderson, F.W. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. S/Sgt Fessler, H.S.	3 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Lt Smith, D.E. Sgt DeStefano, R. S/Sgt Abriola, D.R.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 197 -- February 2, 1945, Friday AM
Euskirchen, Germany -- Supply Center

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

The mission on the 2nd was the opposite of the "milk run" on the 1st. The target, the Euskirchen supply center, was attacked visually. The range of results ran from good to excellent with hits scored on buildings which blocked the roads, and on the roads themselves. (Ex #8-Feb '45.) It had been used as an active supply and housing center for troops enroute to the front. Ground defenses started firing at the formation from the moment it crossed the bombline until it came out of enemy territory. It varied from moderate to intense, but all of it was accurate. Twenty-two of the aircraft suffered battle damage; nineteen, category "A," and three, category "AC." Lieutenant D.E. Smith was flying a window plane. On the return trip he heard an explosion in the rear compartment of the plane. He called his gunners, but neither of them answered. He landed the plane safely at A-78. In the gunners compartment, he found Sergeant R. DeStafono dead. His body was badly broken. Only one small hole was visible in the plane, but the bulkhead had been sprung by the force of the unexplainable explosion. The other gunner, Staff Sergeant D.R. Abriola, was seen to bail out after the explosion near Bolbark, in enemy territory, and is listed as MIA. The [two] boxes, led by Major Price, Lt Hand, B-n and Captain McNulty, Lt Forma, B-n, scored good results.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 204 - 205

Mission #197 - 2 February - Euskirchen Communication Center. Captain Price with Lt. Hand, BN plus Captain McNulty and Lt. Forma, BN led boxes. Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN led a flight. They made two runs at the target, placing their bombs squarely on the aiming point, scoring an excellent rating. As soon as the formation crossed the bomb line, intense, accurate flak greeted our planes. Twenty-two planes suffered damage. Window planes preceeded the group dropping aluminum strips but the flak came through the window strips. Bombing was registered as two excellents and two others as good. One plane piloted by Lt. D. E. Smith, while flying window, suffered a loud explosion in the rear of the plane. He tried to contact his gunners but got no response. He landed the plane safely at A-76 airfield and found one gunner S/Sgt. D. R. Abriola, must have bailed out over enemy territory and the other, Sergeant R. DeStafano, dead on the floor of the compartment. There was only a relatively small hole in the side of the plane, but the bulkhead must have buckled in from the force of an unexplained explosion, hitting the gunner, his body badly broken up.

One other plane was reported as having a wing shot off and the plane spun in without parachutes having been seen. Names of the crew are not available

"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.

Today we made up our lack of crews yesterday. In the mid-morning GP Mission # 197 took to the air, with Sq. "A" crews leading the way. Leading the formation in the first box, fist flight, was Price & Hand, with Gunners Fetko & ----. Right behind them, leading the second box was McNulty & Forma, with Gunners Fuehrer & Lagerman. The rest of our crews formed the flights led by these B/N Teams. The bomb load this time was 250 lb. GP�s.

The enemy Communications Center at Euskirchen, Germany was the recipient of the bomb load. This time it was no "milk run", as intense accurate heavy flak greeted the formation at the target. Two aircraft from other squadrons went down. One of the plans had a wing shot off, and was last seen spinning in about five thousand feet off the ground. The other plane suffered heavy damage, and the crew was forced to bail out. Fortunately, our crews were safe, suffering much flak damage however.

The bombing was done by flight group lead from about 12,500 feet. With the target free from cloud cover; visual observation gave promise to good results. Upon return to the base after a 3:30 journey, photos were printed giving testimony to the results. Needless to say, all the ships were flak damaged, but luckily none of the crews injured.

Results of the mission tabulated from the photos gave the formation 4 � excellent and 2�undetermined. These were "undetermined" because pictures were not taken due to evasive action taken by the aircraft. Both of the flights comprised of our crews brought back "excellent" results. The laurels go to the B/N�s Lt�s Hand & Forma. Both of these bombardiers have over 50 missions to their credit now.

Our move to the next field is certain now, and we expect to be gone within the next week. Our destination --- ????????????????????.

"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

In the outstanding missions of the month, personnel and aircraft of the 668th played an important role. On 2 February the team of Major Price and Lt., Hand led one box, while Captain McNulty and Lt., Forma led another in an attack on the Communications center of Euskirchen. Both boxes scored "Excellent."

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

The second day of February found misfortune once more plaguing the 669th. In an attack on the Euskirken Supply Center, which served as a processing and billeting area for enemy troops enroute to the front, the aircraft piloted by Lt. D. E. Smith was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. An explosion occured in the gunners compartment of the airplane. Sgt. Richard De Stefano, the top turret gunner, was killed outright. The engineer gunner, S/Sgt. D. F. Abriola, bailed out. When last seen, S/Sgt. Abriola was drifting down to a landing behind enemy lines. (It should be added that the aircraft was an A20K.) Lt. Smith was obliged to crash land the airplane at AAF Sta. A-78. Fortunately, he escaped injury. Despite the unfortunate loss mentioned above, the flight comprised of aircraft of this squadron, led by Lt. Col. Napier and his B/N Lt. Moore, achieved excellent results.

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

The next day the Euskirchen communications center was bombed with excellent results. This village was being used by the enemy as a supply and housing center for troops enroute to the front. Twelve 670th crews took part in disrupting this vital communications point.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

With clearing skies over Germany the 416th Invaders dropped tons of fragmentation bombs on the town of Euskirchen with devastating results on the morning of February 2nd, 1945. Four flights received excellent ratings with tight bomb patterns in the center of town, while the two remaining flights were believed to have done equally as well, but due to violent evasive action, photos were not taken.

Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns led the 671st flight. Though flak was intense they made two runs on the target and scored excellent results. However, they could not receive a rating as the one photo taken was from the oblique.

Intense flak was encountered in the target area and followed through the turn off. Twenty-two of the aircraft were battle damaged. A window ship of the 669th Squadron received the brunt of the damage. One gunner was killed, the other bailed out over enemy territory and the pilot crash-landed the plane in friendly territory.