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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 213 -- February 24, 1945, Saturday PM Viersen, Germany Communications Center
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 213 -- February 24, 1945, Saturday PM Viersen, Germany Communications Center
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 40 Total -- 38 A-26's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-060964 Secondary Target : Selected in accordance with IX Bomb Div Cipher F-576-E (9-2-45) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to cloud cover. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.25904,6.39010 (51° 15' 33" N, 6° 23' 24" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF060964) (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 # 213 -- February 24, 1945, Saturday PM
Viersen, Germany -- Communications Center
| 1 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Maj Dunn, L.F. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Majewski, S.J. |
2 670th 43-22507 F6-Q A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
| 4 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Licker, M. |
5 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Kimball, A.H. |
6 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Ford, R. Sgt Kamischke, R.J. |
| 1 668th 43-22481 5H-P A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
2 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
3 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. Sgt Pauker, J.L. |
| 4 668th 43-22495 5H-G A-26C Lt Buchanan, R.C. Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
5 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. S/Sgt Jordan, D.W. |
6 668th 41-39361 5H-M A-26B Lt Long, R.H. Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Capt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. |
2 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. S/Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
3 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Robinson, J.W. |
| 4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L. |
5 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Harmon, F.B. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C. |
| 1 670th 43-22503 F6-X A-26C Lt Rooney, R.J. Lt Kirk, R.L. Lt Koch, O.R. S/Sgt Teran, A. |
2 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Pvt Barry, R.M. |
3 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Stroup, C.C., Jr. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
5 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Plant, R. |
6 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Beck, J.T. S/Sgt Schrom, R.G. |
2 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. Sgt Redding, R.D. |
3 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Henderson, F.W. Sgt Appleman, M. |
| 4 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. Sgt Gross, V.F. |
5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Capt Hixon, S.M. Sgt Miller, H.K. |
6 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
2 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Jordan, C.S. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Turner, D.O., Jr. Lt Britt, J.W. S/Sgt Reyes, M.R. |
| 4 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. |
5 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Sgt Koons, H.A. |
6 669th 41-39238 2A-M A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Sgt Deatherage, J.H. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. S/Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 213 -- February 24, 1945, Saturday PM
Viersen, Germany -- Communications Center
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Another communications center on the Cologne Plain at Viersen was attacked on the 24th. Equipment in the PPF plane failed so the planes attacking with their own Gee equipment. On the last minute of the bomb run, the planes encountered moderate, accurate flak. Ten aircraft suffered battle damage. Results were unobserved through the clouds. Major Dunn, Lts Brewer and Maltby as B and N, and Lt Rooney, Lts Kirk and Koch as B and N, led the two boxes.
These two attacks were the beginning of a series of attacks made on targets on the Cologne Plain prior to and during the drive of the American First and Ninth Armies to the Rhine.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 213
Mission #213 - 24 February - Vierson Communication Center. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Maltby, BNs and Lts. Rooney with Kirk and Koch, BNs on Boxes. Captain Tutt and Lt. Beck, BN,- Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN, -Captain Evans and Lt. McCartney, BN plus Lts. Anderson and Babbage, BN all led flights. The 416th and five other groups participated in the bombing to help advancing troops in close support for their advance toward Cologne. The 410th group bombed first with excellent results. Our group met a cloud cover, requiring GEE equipment bombing. Accurate flak bursts came up on the last minute of the bomb run, injuring ten aircraft. All planes returned safely to base.
"Operational History 668th Bomb Squadron (416th Bomb Group (L)) WWII"
Wayne Williams, et.al.
24th of February – our bombing today, continues to be in co-ordination with the Cologne bound U.S. Armies. We had twelve crews on the loading list for Group Mission # 213, with the two B/N Teams of Evans & McCartney, and Andersen & Babbage. Take off was in the early part of the afternoon; with the "Invaders" carrying loads of 250 lb. GP’s.
The communication center at Vierson was the target, and it was encased in low clouds as anticipated. The bombs were released from the altitudes of 11,500 feet and 12,500 feet employing "Gee" bombing technique. The results were of course "undetermined", as no photos were taken due to cloud cover. Weak inaccurate heavy flak, to heavy accurate flak greeted the formation, and although the flak damaged eleven of the planes, none were lost. The formation headed for home, and landed safely back at the base after three hours of flight. This was the only operational flying for the day.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Bombing of the Virsen Communications Center, also located near Duren, Germany, was accomplished on the following day.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Three more missions were flown on the 24th and 25th against communications centers at Vierson, Kerpen and Morvanich.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Continuing their close-in support for the Cologne-bound U.S.Armies the 9th Bomb Division, 416th included, struck heavy blows at rail and communication centers to halt the flow of enemy reinforcements to the Ninth Army Front. The 416th along with five other groups blasted the communication network and rail yard in the town of Viersen, 17 miles northwest of Dusseldorf. The 410th Group bombed first and obtained excellent results on visual bombing. However, the weather closed in over the target a few minutes later and results of the other outfits were unobserved.
The 416th bombed by boxes on the group lead using Gee. Eleven aircraft received battle damage, but all the ships and crews returned safely.
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[February 24, 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 24, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |