 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 250 -- March 23, 1945, Friday PM Dinslaken, Germany Built Up Area
|
 |
Previous Mission # 249 Mission List Next Mission # 251 Return to Table of Contents
|
416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 250 -- March 23, 1945, Friday PM Dinslaken, Germany Built Up Area
|
|
Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 46 Total -- 46 A-26's Modified British System Reference: A-305300 Secondary Target : Raesfeld (A-370540) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to smoke and haze in target area. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.56450,6.73475 (51° 33' 52" N, 6° 44' 5" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rA305300) (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 # 250 -- March 23, 1945, Friday PM
Dinslaken, Germany -- Built Up Area
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Maj Ferris, C.H. Lt Royalty, P.G. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt Rio, D.J. Capt Fontaine, R.A., Jr. |
2 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Vellinga, J.R. [Wheel would not retract. Landed early. Took off again too late to catch formation] |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Belcas, J.O. |
5 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Wright, H.T. [Not Airborne Left Engine Cutting Out] |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. Cpl Brennan, J.D. |
| 1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Skeens, C.L. Lt Col Radetsky, H.A. |
2 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
3 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Geyer, J.F. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Laseter, W.H. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
5 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. Sgt Miller, W.A. |
6 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. Sgt Harmon, F.B. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Jacobsen, O.F. F/O Harvest, R.W. S/Sgt Gooch, H.I. |
2 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
3 668th 43-22495 5H-G A-26C Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
| 4 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. |
6 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Long, R.H. Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
| 1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. F/O Conley, F.J. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Warren, J.R. Lt Forbes, T.M. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
3 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Sgt Raccio, V.B. [Fire in Cockpit. Hydraulic trouble. Landed at Y-55] |
| 4 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C. |
5 670th 41-39232 F6-K A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. Cpl Eddy, K.A. |
6 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Plant, R. |
| 1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. Capt Chidley, H.W. [Chidley (Weather)] |
2 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Sgt Messinger, R.W. Sgt Snider, S.J. [Snider (4th CCU)] |
3 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. S/Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. |
| 4 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. |
5 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. Sgt Miller, A.H. |
6 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Jordan, C.S. Lt Mulgrew, R.P. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F. |
2 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
3 669th 43-22496 2A-L A-26C Lt Depner, A.W. Sgt Gillespie, R.H. |
| 4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Pikel, J.M. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Haskell, R.W. Sgt Martin, G.A. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. [Scheuerman (4th CCU)] |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. Sgt Wood, W.D. |
2 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
3 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
| 4 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Gary, J.C. Cpl Schoen, A.E., Jr. |
5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Capt Wheeler, R.V. Sgt Williford, C.W. Sgt Graub, R.E. |
6 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Sgt Pompa, P.A. |
| 1 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Capt DuFault, W.F. F/O Cardinale, O.A. S/Sgt Vorce, K.E. |
2 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Anderson, C.M. Sgt Gilbert, C. |
3 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. S/Sgt Hinker, C.V. |
| 4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Walters, J.H. |
5 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Lt Britt, J.W. Cpl Black, R.M. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 250 -- March 23, 1945, Friday PM
Dinslaken, Germany -- Built Up Area
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Our 250th mission, the 33rd of the month and our 50th in 43 days, took off in the afternoon of the 23rd. This time the town of Dinslaken was attacked. Smoke from our morning's bombing still hung over the target. Three boxes of eight flights dropped 64 tons of a new type of incendiary bomb which was supposed to be inextinguishable. The fires swept through the town. Counter-battery fire was very effective because weak, inaccurate flak was encountered. The three boxes were led by Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and McNutt, B&N, Lt. Brewster, with Lt. Dennis and F/O F.J. Conley, B&N, and Capt. Tutt, with Lt. L.A. Orr, B-N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 239 - 240
Mission #250 - 23 March - PM - Dinslaken Factory Area. Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and McNutt, BNs led Box I. Lt. Brewster with Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley, BNs were on Box II. Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr BN leading Box III. Heavy smoke from the morning mission did not deter the bombs dropped in the PM from adding to the conflagrations, our boys dropping incendiaries. Most of the town was also on fire. Three boxes of eight planes each dropped 64 tons of a new type incendiary bomb, which was supposed to be inextinguishable. Weak inaccurate flak came up. Lts. Buskirk and Hanna BN led a flight with success.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
To keep up with the terrific pace established by the ground forces, this squadron was called upon to fly two missions on the next day. The Dinslaken Factory Area was attacked with excellent results. Box I was led by Capt. Miller, with Lts. Conner and Johnson. Their bombing was considered good. The second box, which was led by Lt. Col. Napier, Lt. Moore and Flight Officer Wrubelle achieved superior results.
Mission # 250, flown on the afternoon of this day, was against the Town of Dinslaken. The third flight of box II was led by Lt. Jordan and Lt. Mulgrew. Capt. Dufault, with Flight Officer Cardinale, flew in the lead position of the second flight of the third box. Excellent results were obtained. Counter battery fire by our atrillery, against enemy flak positions, kept the amount of anti-aircraft artillery fire to a minimum.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were run on the 23rd against the Dinslaken Factory. In the morning superior results were achieved with 1000 pound bombs and again in the afternoon another superior was scored using 500 pound incendiary bombs. A total of 17 of our crews took part in these two missions.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 23rd, 1945
For the third successive day the Ninth Bomb Division, including the 416th Group, delivered morning and afternoon blows at enemy defenses between Munster and the Rhine. Crews observed smoke and fire raging throughout the whole sector as the aerial onslaught went on. The A-69 Invaders hammered at the Dinslaken factory in the morning and went back to hit at roads and buildings in the town in the afternoon. Both missions were maximum effort, crews dropping thousand pound GPs in the morning and 500 pound incendiaries in the afternoon.
Excellent, superior and undetermined results were made against the factory. Lt. Lackovich and Lt. Muir were unable to get pictures due to evasive action, but visual reports state bombs hit on buildings. The new bombardiernavigator-pilot team of Captain Sutton and Lt. Reed annexed a superior on their first visual bombing mission as bursts blanketed large factory buildings. Five ships received battle damage and one crashed landed, but the crew reported safe. The factory was a large steel-rolling mill, which the Germans are reported using as an observation post to detect Allied positions and movements across the Rhine.
The incendiary bombing in the afternoon was recorded as excellent to superior although due to no photos available, undetermined results were given on paper. There was smoke and haze over the target and violent evasive action was taken, making the correct taking of pictures impossible. There were no losses, casualties or battle damage.
|
[March 23, 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 23, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |