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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 232 -- March 12, 1945, Monday PM Mummelbach, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 232 -- March 12, 1945, Monday PM Mummelbach, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 42 Total -- 41 A-26's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-944416 Secondary Target : Simmern Summary of Results : Unobserved due to cloud cover. Three Window A-26's. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.77380,7.65777 (50° 46' 26" N, 7° 39' 28" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF944416) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information.) |
Route Map
Loading List 1,
Box I
Loading List 2,
Box II
With Three Additional Window Mission Aircraft
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 232 -- March 12, 1945, Monday PM
Mummelbach, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 669th 43-22521 2A-N A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Sharp, R.P. |
2 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Mish, C.C. Lt Shaft, R.E. Capt Mowry, J.H. S/Sgt Roberts, J.H. |
3 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. S/Sgt Hinker, C.V. |
| 4 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Capt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
5 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B F/O Swap, F.W. Sgt Santandrea, M. |
6 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Dubi, R. |
| 1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. S/Sgt Connery, T. |
2 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Sgt Pompa, P.A. Capt Lundberg, G.B. [Lundberg (Infantry)] |
3 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. S/Sgt Steffey, R.I. |
| 4 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Capt Sutton, L.J. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. |
5 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Capt Nielsen, L.C. Sgt Helton, C. |
6 671st 43-22419 5C-Z A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Farmer, L.J. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
| 1 671st 43-22499 5C-G A-26C Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
2 671st 41-39332 5C-P A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Sgt Davis, L.E. Lt Morris, C.E. [Morris (Infantry)] |
3 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
| 4 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Murray, T.J. S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
5 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt MacCartney, W.A. |
6 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Wright, J.R. Sgt Ruskiewich, J.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Capt DuFault, W.F. S/Sgt Vorce, K.E. |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Malloy, J.F. |
2 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. |
3 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Walters, J.H. |
| 4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Jordan, C.S. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F. |
5 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Mani, J. Capt Eastlake, D.E. [Eastlake (II Armored Div)] |
6 669th 43-22344 2A-C A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. S/Sgt Deatherage, J.H. |
| 1 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Grunig, D.B. Lt Morris, B.C. S/Sgt Nowosielski, H.J. |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. Sgt Sgroi, A.P. Lt Cappel, S.C. [Cappel (Infantry)] |
3 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Capt Borman, H.W. S/Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
| 4 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Barausky, P.P. Pvt Wilson, B.R. |
5 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
6 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D. S/Sgt Basile, A.C. |
| 1 668th 43-22481 5H-P A-26C Capt Andersen, C.J. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
2 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
3 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
| 4 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
5 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Long, R.H. Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
6 668th 43-22495 5H-G A-26C F/O Gunkel, H.G. S/Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
| 1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Fessler, H.S. Pvt Barry, R.M. |
2 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Vars, C.J. S/Sgt Griffith, J.J. Pvt Hawk, D.W. |
3 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L. S/Sgt Kochan, S. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 232 -- March 12, 1945, Monday PM
Mummelbach, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
German equipment and supplies were being rushed to the area of our Ramagen bridgehead through the Mummelbach yards. As a result, on the afternoon of the 12th, one Group attacked the yards on PPF. Although weak, inaccurate flak was experienced at the bomb line in, there was no battle damage. Lt Col Napier, Lts Moore and Calloway, B&N, led the first box; Capt Miller, Lts Connor and Johnson, B&N, the second.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 224 - 225
Mission #232 - 12 March - PM - Posen Marshalling Yard
(Mummebech)? Lt. Col. Napier with Lts. Moore and Calloway,
BN team in Box I. Box II had Captain Miller and Lts. Conner
and Johnson as BNs. Flight leaders were Lts. Andersen and
Babbage BN, Captain Pair and Lt. Corum BN and Lts. Lackovich
and Muir. PFF bombing was required due to cloud cover. Little,
inaccurate flak was seen. German equipment and supplies were
being rushed to this marshalling yard in the area of the Ramagen
bridgehead the allies held, so it had to be attacked.
During the month of March, Ground Forces personnel
were guests of our group, for the purpose of providing information
on what missions were all about, how they formulated, and
carried out. They became observers on some missions. Not one
of the officers or men flying with our crews volunteered to
remain with us for this type duty. Much the same feeling of our
air crews visiting the front lines, saying the air was better than
the ground battle fields. It was an interesting experience for them
to relate to their compatriots about what the other side of the war
was like.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
PPF aircraft led the formation on the bombing run in an attack on the Lorch Marshalling Yard. This mission was accomplished on the 12th of March.
The Marshalling Yards at Mummelbach were hit during the afternoon of the same day. The destruction of German equipment and supplies, moving up to the front through these yards, was the objective of the mission. Lt. Col. Napier, together with Lts. Moore and Calloway led the entire formation. Lt. Miller with Lts. Conner and Johnson led the second box of the formation. PPF equipment had to be used for the bomb run.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Also on the 12th, Lt Merritt was transferred to a general hospital
as a result of his accident.
The Lorch Marshalling Yards were bombed with unobserved results on
12 March. Twelve of our crews participated. In the afternoon a second
mission took off to bomb the Posen Marshalling Yards with eight of our
crews taking part. This too, was a pathfinder mission and the
results were unobserved.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 12th, 1945
The 416th ran their 14th and 15th mission in March 12th, 1945, striking at two marshalling yards with the aid of Pathfinder aircraft. Flak was not encountered on either morning or afternoon mission and all crews returned in tact.
The target in the morning was the Lorch marshalling yard, on the line to the Remagen bridgehead. The Opsen M/Y was the aiming point in the afternoon. This yard is located on the Giesssen-Cologne line.
Lt.John T.Beck scored his final sortie on the morning engagement, flying with Capt.Tutt. Like Lt.Basnett, Beck has had his share of pilots. Starting with Captain Cole, after being transferred from a B-26 outfit where he had chalked up 21 missions, Lt. Beck wasted no time in proving that he was a "hot" bombĦbardier-navigator. Then came the startling switch involving Marzolf, Cole, Basnett and himself. Lt.Beck and Captain Marzolf seemed to be meant for each other and the pair chalked up well over their share of goods, excellents and superiors. Captain Marzolf finished his tour on the day before Christmas, leaving Lt.Beck with an even 50 missions. Then with the arrival of Captain Tutt as a flight leader Beck was assigned to him and flew all but a few of his remainĦing missions with him.
Thus the 671st loses its second versatile and highly rated Bombardier-Navigator....1st Lt. John T. Beck.
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[March 12, 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 12, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |