Loading List 1, Box I
with Three Additional Window Mission Aircraft




Route Map




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wF565655
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet R1 - "Koln" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Map Archive of Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny 1919 - 1939,
GSGS 4416 / AMS M641, 651, 671 Germany, Poland, Middle Danube 1:100,000,
Koln sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 198 -- February 3, 1945, Saturday PM
Berg-Gladbach, Germany -- Storage Buildings

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

On the 3rd, the Group attacked a type of target once considered suitable for the load carried by "heavies," the storage and repair depots at Berg Gladbach. It was one of the most active deports used by the Germans, and was considered very well defended. The target was just a few miles east of Cologne. Weather was very bad so that it was necessary to bomb on a PPF plane. Results were unobserved. Moderate, accurate heavy flak was thrown up in the target area and four aircraft suffered battle damage. Only one box of planes took off; it was led by Capt Stebbins, Lt Calloway, B-N. One flight got separated from the formation in the bad weather, but went in to attack the same target with the 409th Bomb Group.

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

Mission #198 - 3 February - Berg/Gladbach Storage and Repair Depot. Cloud cover required PFF Pathfinder leaders taking the formation in. Only one box made the mission, led by Captain Stebbins and Lt. Calloway BN. Captain Greenley and Lt. Basnett, BN led a flight. This target just east of Cologne was heavily protected with 24 flak guns, causing moderate, accurate bursts around the formation. Four planes suffered battle damage. One flight got separated from the formation due to bad weather. They formed behind the 409th Bomb Group and dropped their bombs when they did. So, it shouldn't be a loss! Four groups were assigned to attack this target but weather did not cooperate, covering the aiming point with clouds.

4 February - plans were released calling for the group to move to another base - A-69 at Laon, France. Everybody available was busy packing with the first echelon leaving A-55 on 5 February by truck convoy, arriving the next morning, the 6th, to make preparation for the remainder of the group. On 9 February, all ground personnel were loaded on the famed 40/8 box cars and started to Laon a 110 mile ride. A truck convoy left at 0130 of 10 February, arriving at Laon at 1000. Rain and cold weather made the trip uncomfortable. The air echelon arrived on the 10th, also. In the mean time, missions were being flown from A-55.

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

On the following day, Capt. Stebbins with his B/N Lt. Calloway, led the entire group formation in an attack on the Berg Gladbach Storage and Repair Depot. Capt. Sommers together with Lt. Kupits, his B/N, flew in the deputy leader's position. The results of the mission were unobserved. PPF bombing equipment was used. Cloud cover prevented observation of the bombing resutls.

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

February 3rd, 1945

The 416th went into a flak hot-bed on the afternoon of 3rd of February 1945, but cloud coverage provided the necessary camouflage for the Invaders and all the ships and crews returned safely with five aircraft battle damaged. The target was a spare parts, repair and storage depot at Berg/Gladbach, eight miles west of Cologne. The enemy is known to have 24 heavy guns located at the target and there is a possibility that many more have been added. Four Groups in all attacked this target, all employing Pathfinder technique. There was no photo coverage or visual observation.

[February 3, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, February 3, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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