9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 236 -- March 15, 1945, Thursday PM

Pirmasens, Germany

Road Junction

 

WWII-Medal

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Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 205-793
OpRep #            : 346
Nature of Mission  : Bombing
Mission Status     : Attacked
Bombing Altitude   : 12,000 feet
Take-off Time      : 1235
Time Over Target   : 1402
Landing Time       : 1525
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 2:50
 

Place of Take-Off  : A-69 Laon/Athies, France
A/C Dispatched     : 45 Total -- 45 A-26's
Modified British System Reference: Q-904666
Secondary Target   : Weigenburg
Summary of Results : Due to type bombs used no strikes are visible. Visual reports Excellent. 36 a/c attacked Primary target, 6 Casual Flak position, 3 Window.

Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.19940,7.60538 (49° 11' 58" N, 7° 36' 19" E)
(Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wQ904666)
(See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)


Scanned original Mission 236 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder       Reports Folder       OpRep # 346       Fuel Use

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.




Loading List 1

Loading List 1, Box I


Loading List 2

Loading List 2, Box II


Loading List 3

Loading List 3, Box III
With Three Additional Window Mission Aircraft



Route Map

Route Map


Target Topo Map

Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wQ904666
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet V2 - "Wissembourg" 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,
Wissembourg sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)

(Annotated Full Map PDF)



Mission Loading Lists Transcription

Mission # 236 -- March 15, 1945, Thursday PM
Pirmasens, Germany -- Road Junction

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.

Box I -- Flight I
  1  669th                   
  43-22521  2A-N  A-26C
  Lt Col Napier, J.G.
  Lt Moore, D.L.
  Lt Johnson, G.G.
  S/Sgt Carstens, R.W.
  Lt Col Willetts, D.L.
  2  669th                   
  41-39244  2A-I  A-26B
  Lt VanRope, R.W.
  S/Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr.
 
 
  3  669th                   
  41-39252  2A-D  A-26B
  Lt Anderson, C.M.
  S/Sgt Deatherage, J.H.
 
 
  4  669th                   
  41-39338  2A-O  A-26B
  Lt Sorrels, D.W.
  Lt Haskell, R.W.
  S/Sgt Malara, V.A.
 
  5  669th                   
  41-39362  2A-Y  A-26B
  Lt Smith, B.A.
  Sgt Wilson, R.P.
 
 
  6  669th                   
  43-22383  2A-V  A-26B
  Lt Depner, A.W.
  S/Sgt Gillespie, R.H.
 
 

Box I -- Flight II
  1  671st                   
  43-22499  5C-G  A-26C
  Lt Brown, C.J.
  Lt Kerns, J.E.
  S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E.
  Capt Lundberg, G.B.
  [Lundberg (Infantry)]
  2  671st                   
  43-22352  5C-J  A-26B
  Lt Gary, J.C.
  Pvt Schoen, A.E., Jr.
 
 
  3  671st                   
  43-22497  5C-E  A-26C
  Lt Sutton, L.J., Jr.
  Lt Reed, J.V.
  S/Sgt Huss, C.F.
 
  4  671st                   
  41-39209  5C-M  A-26B
  Lt Murray, T.J., Jr.
  Sgt Maupin, W.W.
 
 
  5  671st                   
  41-39332  5C-P  A-26B
  Lt Milhorn, G.L.
  S/Sgt Davis, H.R.
 
 
  6  671st                   
  43-22419  5C-Z  A-26B
  Lt Spires, J.W.
  Sgt Davis, L.E.
 
 

Box I -- Flight III
  1  671st                   
  43-22498  5C-R  A-26C
  Capt Pair, H.F.
  Lt Corum, J.L.
  S/Sgt Brown, R.J.
 
  2  671st                   
  43-22356  5C-C  A-26B
  Lt VanNoorden, H.M.
  S/Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr.
 
 
  3  671st                   
  41-39239  5C-N  A-26B
  Lt Winn, A.J.P.
  S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G.
 
 
  4  671st                   
  43-22326  5C-W  A-26B
  Capt Nielsen, L.C.
  Sgt Goldberg, L.
 
 
  5  671st                   
  43-22313  5C-B  A-26B
  Lt Hlivko, A.E.
  Sgt Graub, R.E.
 
 
  6  671st                   
  41-39250  5C-A  A-26B
  Lt Mooney, S.
  Sgt Buckley, W.C.
  S/Sgt Jordan, D.W.
 


Box II -- Flight I
  1  669th                   
  43-22487  2A-J  A-26C
  Capt Miller, E.L.
  Lt Conner, J.K.
  Lt Enman, R.E.
  S/Sgt Floyd, C.F.
  Col Aylesworth, T.R.
  2  669th                   
  43-22354  2A-S  A-26B
  Lt Weinert, C.E.
  Sgt Francis, R.D.
 
 
  3  669th                   
  43-22381  2A-Q  A-26B
  F/O Swap, F.W.
  Lt Britt, J.W.
  Sgt Santandrea, M.
 
  4  669th                   
  43-22351  2A-F  A-26B
  Lt DuBose, M.W.
  S/Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr.
 
 
  5  669th                   
  41-39314  2A-H  A-26B
  Lt Smith, D.E.
  S/Sgt Kirik, S.J.
  Capt Eastlake, D.E.
  [Eastlake (II Armored Div)]
 
  6  669th                   
  41-39263  2A-G  A-26B
  Lt Dunn, F.G.
  Sgt Stein, L.C.
 
 

Box II -- Flight II
  1  670th                   
  43-22507  F6-Q  A-26C
  Lt Grunig, D.B.
  Lt Morris, B.C.
  S/Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr.
 
  2  670th                   
  41-39223  F6-B  A-26B
  Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr.
  Sgt Raccio, V.B.
 
 
  3  670th                   
  41-39224  F6-E  A-26B
  Lt Musgrove, W.
  S/Sgt Belcas, J.O.
 
 
  4  670th                   
  41-39416  F6-O  A-26B
  Lt Singletary, R.B.
  Lt Henson, A.G.
  S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G.
 
  5  670th                   
  43-22320  F6-S  A-26B
  Lt O'Brien, J.V.
  Sgt Corey, F.E.
 
 
  6  670th                   
  41-39215  F6-R  A-26B
  Lt Wallace, J.F.
  Sgt Plant, R.
 
 

Box II -- Flight III
  1  668th                   
  43-22481  5H-P  A-26C
  Capt Andersen, C.J., Jr.
  Lt Babbage, W.
  S/Sgt Schafer, E.L.
 
  2  668th                   
  41-39264  5H-I  A-26B
  Lt Parker, P.E.
  S/Sgt Heitell, S.L.
 
 
  3  668th                   
  43-22385  5H-D  A-26B
  Lt Laseter, W.H.
  Sgt Cross, R.M.
 
 
  4  668th                   
  41-39213  5H-A  A-26B
  Lt Hale, W.L.
  S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H.
 
 
  5  668th                   
  43-22321  5H-T  A-26B
  Lt Roberts, W.H.
  S/Sgt Kochan, S.J.
 
 
  6  668th                   
  41-39335  5H-W  A-26B
  Lt Zeimet, L.R.
  Cpl Ray, R.K.
 
 


Box III -- Flight I
  1  670th                   
  43-22501  F6-W  A-26C
  Lt Brewster, F.S.
  Lt Dennis, L.W.
  S/Sgt Gatti, R.J.
 
  2  670th                   
  43-22307  F6-N  A-26B
  Lt Ford, R.
  S/Sgt Harmon, C.D.
 
 
  3  670th                   
  41-39315  F6-F  A-26B
  Lt Green, J.A.
  Sgt Kubjalko, A.
 
 
  4  670th                   
  43-22528  F6-T  A-26C
  Capt Stanley, C.S.
  F/O Blount, J.H., Jr.
  Sgt Edenburn, J.C.
 
  5  670th                   
  43-22330  F6-P  A-26B
  Lt Stankowski, J.F.
  S/Sgt Hummer, J.A.
 
 
  6  669th                   
  43-22496  2A-T  A-26C
  Capt Borman, H.W.
  Sgt Perujo, R.J.
 
 

Box III -- Flight WINDOW
  1  670th                   
  43-22469  F6-A  A-26C
  Lt Lackovich, J.J.
  Lt Muir, R.C.
  Pvt Barry, R.M.
  S/Sgt Connery, T.F.
  Lt Morris, C.E.
  [Morris (Infantry)]
  2  670th                   
  43-22334  F6-G  A-26B
  Lt Blevins, J.W.
  Sgt Gentry, F., Jr.
  S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P.
 
  3  668th                   
  41-39361  5H-M  A-26B
  Lt Annin, W.W.
  Sgt Rivard, C.J.
  S/Sgt Robinson, J.W.
 



Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 236 -- March 15, 1945, Thursday PM
Pirmasens, Germany -- Road Junction


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

Incendiary bombs were dropped on the Pirmassens road junction on the 15th. For the first time in over a month, the weather was ideal. Taking advantage of the weather, our bombardiers did an excellent job. The town was almost completely covered with smoke and flames after the attack. Just before our main formation reached the target, six planes, carrying 260 pound fragmentation bombs attacked flak positions at the target area. Their job was well done because only a few bursts of inaccurate flak were seen. The mission, led by Lt Col Napier, Lt Moore and Johnson, B&N, and Capt Miller, Lts Connor and Enman, B&N, was the 20th in eight days.


"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 226

Mission #236 - 15 March - Pirmasens Road Junction. Ninth Bomb Division sent out eleven groups to wipe out this town which stood in the path of advancing allied armies. Our group scored well, with bombs falling in the center of town, amid smoke and flames. Frag bombs dropped by other groups fell right in between smoke and flames, destroying their objective. In spite of clear weather, no flak came up. This mission was led by Lt. Col. Napier with Lts. Moore and Johnson, BN team on Box I. Captain Miller with Lts. Conner and Enman, BNs led Box II. Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN, - Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN, Captain Pair and Corum BN, and Captain Sutton and Lt. Reed BN, all led flights.


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

Clear skies permitted visual bombing of the Pirmasens Road Junction on the 15th of March. When all the aircraft had bombed, the town appeared to be almost completely in flames and covered with smoke. Lt. Moore and Lt. Johnson flew as Bombardier and Navigator, respectively, in the lead aircraft of the formation, which was piloted by Lt. Col. Napier. Capt. Miller and Lts. Conner and Enman led the second box of the formation.


"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Lt Robert J. Rooney was promoted to the grade of Captain and Lt Errotabere to 1st Lt on the 15th of March.

Superior results were achieved when the Pirmosens [Pirmasens] Communication Center was bombed on 15 March. A blanket of bombs covered the center of the town. Eleven 670th crews participated in this attack.


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

March 15th, 1945

Shifting their offensive to the Sarbrucken area on March 15th, the Ninth Bomb Division sent 11 Groups to knock out two large towns in the path of the Seventh Army, which is making its bid now to push up the west bank of the Rhine River and cut off the Germans in a large pocket. The 416th Group and five other medium outfits dropped their bombs on Pirmasens, 28 miles east of Sarbrucken with damaging results.

Forty-five A-26s were sent out by this Group, six flights hitting the town with incendiaries and one flight dropping frags on two flak positions in the target area. Ratings by flight could not be made as bursts were not visible on the strike photos, but all bombs fell into one large pattern in the center of town. A large number of fires were started and severe damage was done to buildings in the center of town.

Crews' carrying the frag bombs reported excellent results on the flak positions, although due to the type of bomb, no strike photos were available.

Although the skies were crystal clear, only a couple of flak bursts were seen and the group did not have any battle damage.




[March 15, 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 15, 1945
World War II Military Situation Maps Collection
Library of Congress


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