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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 223 -- March 5, 1945, Monday PM Bingen, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 223 -- March 5, 1945, Monday PM Bingen, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 43 Total -- 41 A-26's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Modified British System Reference: M-106523 Secondary Target : Eller Railroad Bridge (L-575675) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to 10/10 Cloud coverage. 3 a/c dropped Window. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.97046,7.88508 (49° 58' 14" N, 7° 53' 6" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wM106523) (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 # 223 -- March 5, 1945, Monday PM
Bingen, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 669th 43-22521 2A-N A-26C Lt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. |
2 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. S/Sgt Malloy, J.F. |
3 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Capt DuFault, W.F. S/Sgt Vorce, K.E. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Capt Behlmer, R.L. Lt Smith, B.A. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. |
5 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. Sgt Kirik, S.J. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Sgt Deatherage, J.H. |
| 1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. |
2 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
3 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt Green, J.A. Sgt Rorbakken, R.R. |
| 4 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Maj Ferris, C.H. S/Sgt Rio, D.J. |
5 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Vellinga, J.R. |
6 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Krantz, J.G. |
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. Sgt Torres, I. |
2 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. Sgt Tharp, F.M. |
3 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Errotabere, M. Sgt Lynch, P.R. |
| 4 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
5 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Capt Borman, H.W. Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
6 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
| SPARE 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Bookach, M. S/Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Hinson, A.H. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
3 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. S/Sgt Steffey, R.I. Sgt Miller, H.K. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Capt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. F/O Harvest, R.W. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. |
2 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Pvt Barry, R.M. |
3 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. S/Sgt Rivard, C.J. |
| 4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
5 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Musarra, A.J. |
6 668th 43-22495 5H-G A-26C Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Fetko, C., Jr. |
| 1 668th 43-22523 5H-N A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. S/Sgt Robinson, J.W. |
3 668th 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B F/O Gunkel, H.G. Sgt Grzona, L.J. |
6 668th 41-39361 5H-M A-26B Lt Long, R.H. Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Beck, J.T. Sgt Wood, W.D. |
2 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
3 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Davis, W.G., Jr. |
| 4 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Capt Sutton, L.J., Jr. S/Sgt Gilliam, D.C. |
5 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
6 671st 43-22419 5C-Z A-26B Lt Eastman, D.M. S/Sgt Johnson, R.J. |
| SPARE 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Geyer, J.F. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 223 -- March 5, 1945, Monday PM
Bingen, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon, the Bingen yards were attacked behind two PPF planes. There was weak, inaccurate flak at the target. Capt Stebbins, Lts Calloway and McQuade, B&N, and Captain Anderson, Lt Babbage and F/O Harvest, B&N, were the box leaders. Reconnaissance over the target five days later found very heavy damage to the yards.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 222
Mission #223 - 5 March - PM - Bingen Marshalling Yard. Captain Stebbins with Lts. Calloway and McQuade, BNs with Captain Anderson and Lts. Conner and Johnson, BNs led boxes. Captain Tutt and Lt. Beck BN and Lts Lackovich and Muir, BN led flights. PFF planes led the boxes at 12,500 feet. No flak or fighters. The formation landed well after sunset. Photo recon later showed extensive damage was done by the hits. Lt. Bob Basnett, BN of the 671st squadron completed his mission tour with 66 to his credit. He did an outstanding job as flight and box leader, flying with different pilots during his tour. He was one of the original bombardier-navigators to come overseas with the group and the first BN of the 671st to complete the magic 65.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Marburg Marshalling Yard was attacked on March 5th. Again PPF technique had to be used. Observation of the results was impossible because of the 10/10ths cloud cover.
The second mission to take-off on this day was led by Capt. Stebbins, with Lts. Calloway and McQuade flying as Bombardier and Navigator respectively. The Bingen Marshalling Yards were bombed by the use of PPF equipment. Results were unobserved, but photo reconnaissance five days later disclosed that considerable damage had been done to the yards.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Marburg Marshalling Yard was the target in the morning of the following day. The take off was accomplished in extremely poor weather which continued to the target where they found 10/10 cloud cover. Bombing was done behind the pathfinder ship and results were undetermined. In the afternoon the Bergen Marshalling yards were hit with 12 670th crews taking part with undetermined results because of 10/10 cloud cover. This also was a pathfinder mission.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 5th, 1945
The 416th went out twice on March 5th to hit at Marshalling Yards serving the Western Armies with its various needs. In the morning the Invaders struck through clouds by use of Pathfinders the Marburg Marshalling Yard, 16 miles north of Giessen. All 38 ships dropped 500 GPs on the target, although results were unobserved. The crews saw only a few puffs of flak.
In the afternoon the formation went to the Bingen Marshalling Yard, 35 miles southwest of Frankfurt. Again results were unobserved as the ships dropped through 10/10 clouds on the Pathfinder.
This time 40 Invaders dropped their 500 pounders on the highly prized M/Y.
Lt. Basnett Winds Up Tour in the E.T.O.
1st Lt. Robert J. (The Kid) Basnett became the first Bombardier/Navigator of the 671st Bomb Squadron to finish his tour when he chalked up Number 66 on the morning mission of March 5th 1945. Lt. Basnett had 64 ¾ missions to his credit previous to this mission, but needed to fly another one to reach the 65 mark.
Lt.Basnett annexed an admirable record with the Squadron. Coming across the pond with the Group, he got a slow start in England when the higher ups figured he was too young and needed a little more training. He was finally teamed up with Lt. Marzolf and the pair really chalked up missions. They scored their share of goods and excellents.
Then out of a clear blue sky Lt.Basnett was assigned to Captain Cole. Lt. Beck, who had been flying with Cole up to this time, switched over to Lt. Marzolf. Lt. Basnett had 30 missions at this time. No one (except the wheels) knew what it was all about, and the personnel involved were not too happy over the deal. However, the change worked to the advantage of both Lt. Beck and Lt. Basnett, together with their pilots became two of the hottest combinations in the Group.
Captain Cole had a head start on the Kid, and he finished up his tour on December 5th, leaving Lt.Basnett with 50 missions. Basnett was ready to go home then, but it just couldn't be that way. Captain Greenley and his bombardier, Lt.Mitchell hadn't been doing too well...so out went Lt. Mitchell and in came Lt. Basnett to the rescue. However, Greenley was ahead of Lt.Basnett when he joined him, and when Greenley had 65, Lt. Basnett had 59. Six to go.
At this time it was decided to use two bombardier/navigators in the lead ship, and so Lt. Basnett flew the remainder of his missions as navigator in the lead ship, when this Squadron had the lead.
The Kid is now waiting for his orders sending him back to the U.S.A.
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[March 5, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, March 5, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |