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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 245 -- March 21, 1945, Wednesday AM Coesfeld, Germany Road Junction
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 245 -- March 21, 1945, Wednesday AM Coesfeld, Germany Road Junction
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 41 Total -- 41 A-26's Modified British System Reference: A-610721 Secondary Target : Suitable Alternate Authorized Summary of Results : No assessment due to smoke in target area. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.94570,7.17008 (51° 56' 45" N, 7° 10' 12" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rA610721) (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 # 245 -- March 21, 1945, Wednesday AM
Coesfeld, Germany -- Road Junction
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Capt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
2 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Lt Schlefer, M.P. Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
3 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. |
| 4 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Capt Sommers, H.L. S/Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Stein, L.C. |
6 669th 43-22496 2A-L A-26C Lt Housley, C.H. Cpl Block, P.J. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Cpl Barry, R.M. |
2 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Davis, W.G., Jr. |
3 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
| 4 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. |
5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Capt Nielsen, L.C. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. Capt Castle, W.D. |
6 671st 43-22419 5C-Z A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Graub, R.E. |
| 1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Schumacher, R.C. |
3 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. S/Sgt Steffey, R.I. |
| 4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Hinson, A.H. |
5 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. S/Sgt Chest, D. |
6 671st 41-39332 5C-P A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Sgt Davis, L.E. Sgt Miller, H.K. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. Sgt Gillespie, R.H. |
| 1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. Sgt Wood, W.D. Sgt Schwartzapel, D. Lt Robertson, L.C. [Robertson (Infantry)] |
2 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
3 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. Sgt Miller, W.A. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L. |
| 1 670th 43-22503 F6-X A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. Capt Poindexter, R.D. [Poindexter (Wing)] |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Errotabere, M. Lt Wilbur, M.F. Sgt Bowie, E.A. |
3 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Francis, R.D. |
| 4 669th 43-22304 2A-T A-26C Capt DuFault, W.F. F/O Cardinale, O.A. S/Sgt Vorce, K.E. Capt Rabbitt, J.J. [Rabbitt (Infantry)] |
5 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Haskell, R.W. Sgt Lea, E.W. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Wilson, R.P. |
| 1 670th 43-22507 F6-Q A-26C Lt Hall, R.B. F/O Goss, T.L. S/Sgt Majewski, S.J. [Returned Early Oil Leak - could not catch formation] |
2 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
3 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Sgt Raccio, V.B. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
5 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. Cpl Brennan, J.D. |
6 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. S/Sgt Urbanicio, F.R. |
| 1 668th 43-22523 5H-N A-26C Lt Jacobsen, O.F. F/O Harvest, R.W. Lt Martin, R.L. S/Sgt Pettinicchi, A. |
2 668th 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Windisch, R.P. |
3 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
| 4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Singleton, L.E. |
5 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. Sgt Hicks, C.M. |
6 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. S/Sgt Cross, R.M. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. [Ottaviano (670)] |
| SPARE 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. Lt Britt, J.W. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 245 -- March 21, 1945, Wednesday AM
Coesfeld, Germany -- Road Junction
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The Coesfeld road junction in Holland was attacked by 37 aircraft dropping 500 pound incendiaries on the morning of the 21st. Fires from the bombing swept from one end of the town to the other. Smoke from previous bombings interfered with the sighting. None the less, the results were excellent. The course took the planes over most of Holland and yet flak was never more than meager. The boxes were led by Capt Miller, Lts Connor and McCartney, B&N, Lt Col Napier, with Lt Moore[?], B-N.
[The remainder of page 20 and the first line of page 21 are missing. ]
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 234
Mission #245 - 21 March - AM - Goesfield Communication Center. Incendiaries from 37 planes made this community in Holland a firey mess, Captain Miller with Lts. Conner and McCartney, BNs and Lt. Col. Napier with Lts. Miller and Hullgrew BN, led the boxes. Flights were headed up by Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr BN, Lts. Buskirk and Hanna BN, plus Lts. Lackovich and Muir BN. Captain Tutt had an Infantry Observer, Lt. Robertson riding with him. The bombs were dropped amidst smoke and flames, but the results showed the entire town seemed to be burning. The formation flew over most of Holland into the target, but weak, inaccurate flak did not bother them. All returned safely.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Coesfeld Road Junction, in Holland, was the first target attacked on the 21st of March. Numerous fires were started from one end of the town to the other. Box I of the formation was led by Capt. Miller with Lts. Conner and Calloway. Lt. Col. Napier, with Lt. Moore flew in the lead position of the second box.
For the afternoon mission of this day, the Vreden Road Junctions were attacked. Lt. Johnson, flying with Lt. Blomgren, achieved superior resutls. The flight led by Lt. Turner and Lt. McGivern attacked flak positions in the vicinity of the target.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
In the morning of the 21st of March the Goesfeld Communication Center in Holland was attacked. Superior results were observed with the 500 pound incendiary bombs which were dropped. The town of Goesfeld was fired from one side to the other. Seven of our crews took part.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 21st, 1945
The 416th continued its fast pace on March 21st when it attacked two targets in the Munster area opposite the Ninth Army. Three more 671st pilots
chalked up No. 65 on the second mission...Lt.William A. Merchant, Lt. Thomas J. Murray and Lt. Arthur E. Herman. Lt. Merchant who has been with this Squadron since July of 1943, waited a long time for his 65th, having flown No. 64 on the 28th of February. He had quite a few close calls in those 65 missions, picking up a Purple Heart and DFC on the way. Merchant did not limit his close calls to A-20s and A-26s. He had a few narrow escapes in AT-6s, L-4s and other training ships, the tales of which are recorded in length in previous pages of the Diary. Lt. Murray and Lt. Herman, a couple of New England boys joined the 671st Squadron together back in May of 1944 and were in on their share of rough missions throughout their tour. The three crafty air¡plane drivers followed the example of Lt. Henderson and Lt. Miller by giving out with a series of buzz-jobs which just about took the roofs off all the buildings in the area, and almost blew away the tents.
In the morning the formation attacked the Goesfeld Communication Center, dropping 222 x 500 lb. incendiaries into the smoke of previous bombs. A rating could not be given due to the smoke and the type bomb, but results were highly favorable. There were no losses, casualties or battle damage.
The afternoon mission which saw the communication center of Vreden take a sound beating was marred by a mid-air collision coming off the target. The lead aircraft of Box II, flown by Lt. Roney of the 670th Squadron, and the lead ship of Flight B, Box I, flown by Captain Anderson of the 668th Squadron, collided in mid-air as the latter was attempting to regain hi position in Box I. The reason for the crash is undetermined. Both ships had completed operations and were over friendly territory when the collision occurred. Lt. Kirk, Capt. Roney's bombardier, bailed out and returned safely, but all the other personnel, including an Infantry Captain, were found dead. This was Captain Roney's 65 mission and he had just made Captain...and ironical fact.
Fifty-one aircraft were dispatched on this maximum effort mission, 42 dropping thousand pounders on the primary, 6 ships dropping frags on flak positions and three ships throwing window. Four excellents and a superior were annexed and three undermined, all of which were believed to have caused severe damage, but all except the two, which crashed, returned safely.
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[March 21, 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 21, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |