416th BG Mission 215

Mission # 215 -- February 25, 1945, Sunday PM
Norvenich, Germany -- Road Junctions

Box I -- Flight I
1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Maj Price, R.F. Lt Forma, W. Lt McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Fetko, C., Jr.	2 669th 43-22521 2A-N A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr.	3 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C.
4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P.	5 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Sgt Newman, F.	6 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Cpl Sereno, F.L.

Box I -- Flight II
1 670th 43-22503 F6-X A-26C Lt Rooney, R.J. Lt Kirk, R.L. S/Sgt Caudell, S.R.	2 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Krantz, J.G.	3 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J.
4 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. Sgt Sgroi, A.P.	5 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Ford, R. Sgt Kamischke, R.J.	6 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Wright, H.T.

Box I -- Flight III
1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O.	2 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Hudnutt, L.W.	3 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Teran, A.
4 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O.	5 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Vellinga, J.R.	6 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. S/Sgt Harmon, C.D.

Box I
SPARE 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Kenny, J.P. Lt Evarts, A.V. S/Sgt Sittarich, J.J.

Box II -- Flight I
1 668th 43-22481 5H-P A-26C Capt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L.	2 671st 43-22499 5C-G A-26C Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr.	3 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. Sgt Rivard, C.J.
4 668th 41-39361 5H-M A-26B Lt Buchanan, R.C. Sgt Calabrese, C.L.	5 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. Sgt Grzona, L.J. [Not Airborne Right Mag - Left Engine Cut Out]	6 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Long, R.H. Cpl Youlios, D., Jr.

Box II -- Flight II
1 669th 43-22496 2A-T A-26C Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. Sgt Reid, K.A.	2 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Sgt Deatherage, J.H.	3 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Jordan, C.S. Sgt Jensen, K.F.
4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Walters, J.H.	5 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Sgt Hawk, O.T.	6 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Basford, F.P.

Box II -- Flight III
1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Beck, J.T. Sgt Schwartzapel, D.	2 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Jokinen, W.R. Sgt Creeden, E.J.	3 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Capt Sutton, L.J., Jr. S/Sgt Gilliam, D.C.
4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Henderson, F.W. Pvt Schoen, A.E., Jr.	5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt MacCartney, W.A.	6 671st 41-39332 5C-P A-26B Lt Eastman, D.M. S/Sgt Eaton, A.B.

Box II
SPARE 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Gandy, R.S.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 215 -- February 25, 1945, Sunday PM
Norvenich, Germany -- Road Junctions

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

That afternoon, a second mission took off, this time to attack the Norvenich communications center. It was a PPF attack through a solid cloud cover. There was no flak. Major Price, Lts Forma and McCartney as B and N, and Captain Anderson, Lts Babbage and Shaft as B and N, were the box leaders.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 214

Mission #215 - 25 February - PM Norvenish (Munstereifel Town). As Captain Hulse said so often, "The planes can hardly catch their breath when the have to get going again." So it was on this day, again. The planes had not cooled down from the morning mission, when they were refueled and re-armed, even though the weather was threatening. Major Price and Lts. Forma and McCartney, BNs and Captain Anderson with BNs Lts., - Babbage and Shaft leading boxes. Captain Tutt and Lt. Beck BN and Lts. Buskirk and Hanna BN led flights. At 1400 the planes took off and arrived at the target cloud covered, requiring bombing with PFF pathfinders. Again, a new replacement pilot was riding shotgun with another pilot on our A-26s to see what the war was all about. Lt. Evarts rode with Lt. Kenny, which got Evarts all excited about what to expect when he got to ride the left seat.

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

Hardly had the planes returned to the hardstands, when the call came for the next alerted crews to report to the briefing room. Just as the last plane had been check and re-fueled, the crews were already at the hardstands. Weather gave the impression that this mission wouldn�t get off, as a low ceiling moved in. A little after 1400 hours, Group Mission # 215 took to the air. Leading the first box, backed by five of our crews, was Major Price, with Lt�s Forma & McCartney, and Gunner Fetko. Capt. Andersen ably led the second box, with the B/N Babbage & Shaft, and Gunner Schafer. This time Lt. Evert�s experienced his "first", riding along with Lt. Kenny. Not unlike Tank & Gunkel, he too had stories to tell upon returning.

Striking ahead of the Ninth and First Armies, the Group bombarded the communication center of Norvenich. As a cover over the target had been expected, PFF bombing technique was used, and the boxes bombed from 13,600 feet. Results were of course "undetermined", and the planes returned at dusk, free of damage. The trip lasted 2:30. So ended the day.

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

The Kerpen Road Junction in Germany was attacked with excellent results on the morning of February 25th. Once more the 669th Bombardment Squadron had the misfortune of losing one of its combat crews. Lt. John J. Farley and his gunner, Sgt. Hardesty, were reproted [reported] missing in action. The aircraft in which they were flying was seen to have been hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and then to have fallen toward the ground.

On the afternoon of the same day, the Duren area again received a pounding. The Nouvenich Communication Center was bombed by the use of PPF. The results were unobserved because of cloud cover.

"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.

Captain Daniel F. Shea left for the United States on 25 February where he was to spend a 30 day leave and then return to the squadron for reassignment to the Ninth Bombardment Division.

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

February 25th, 1945

The 416th continued to hammer targets in the Cologne area on February 25th by running two missions against two strongly fortified communication centers. In the morning Colonel Willetts led the formation as a representative of the 671st Bomb Squadron for the last time, having been transferred to Group Operations as Operations Officer the next day.

Colonel Willetts and his bombardier-navigator team of Lt. Royalty and Lt. Basnett scored excellent results against the Communication Center of Kerpon, just ten miles from Cologne. But intense accurate flak took a lot of the joy away from the mission. Lt. Farley of the 669th Squadron, flying deputy lead on Colonel Willetts, was shot down over the target and the Colonel�s ship received a flak hit at the same time. It was not in a vulnerable spot, however. The aircraft lost was hit in the right engine. The plane turned over on its back and went into a spin. Several crews reported that the aircraft later exploded. A piece of the plane struck the leading edge of Lt. Graeber�s ship, but he was able to bring the aircraft back in tact.

Flak was first encountered about three miles before the target and continued until the bomb line was reached on the way out. Eight ships in all were battle damaged. Plotted gun positions consisted of 27 heavy guns enroute and 50 heavy guns east of the target.

The mission became snafued just after take-off. Colonel Willetts could not get his wheels up and was unable to access the lead immediately. The formation was supposed to form on Lt.Misch in this case, but instead formed on Lt. Farley. Colonel Willetts finally pulled his wheels up and took over the first box with Lt.Farley his deputy. Another flight of the second box formed in the first box, leaving Capt. Pair with just his own flight and one other. A Pathfinder was dispatched with the formation, but upon entering the target area it was evident that visual bombing could be employed successfully. Therefore the first box dumped their bombs by this method. The center of the pattern was 590 feet east of the DMPI, covering a large part of the town. The Pathfinder dropped on its own and Captain Pair released his bombs either on the Pathfinder or one of the ships in Box I. He did not receive word that the mission was changed from Pathfinder to visual. Hits on rail tracks were made by Capt. Pair�s flights.

Afternoon Mission

"Pure Cake" was the definition given the mission against the Horvenich Communications Center on the afternoon of February 25th, the second tartet of the day for the 416th Invaders. The Group met no flak enroute or at the target and all ships returned untouched. The bombing was by Pathfinder lead. Results were undetermined, as there was no photo or visual observation.