416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 236 -- March 15, 1945, Thursday PM Pirmasens, Germany Road Junction
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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) |
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 236 -- March 15, 1945, Thursday PM
Pirmasens, Germany -- Road Junction
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |