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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 255 -- March 26, 1945, Monday PM Gemunden, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 255 -- March 26, 1945, Monday PM Gemunden, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 38 A-26's Modified British System Reference: N-405630 Secondary Target : Werthhein (N-283304) Summary of Results : Flight results - two Undetermined, two Excellent, two Superior. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.05035,9.70065 (50° 3' 1" N, 9° 42' 2" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wN405630) (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 # 255 -- March 26, 1945, Monday PM
Gemunden, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
2 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
3 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Fero, D.A. F/O Langsam, R.L. S/Sgt Rojas, A.A. |
| 4 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Ames, W.H. S/Sgt Barber, F.E. |
5 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Sgt Helt, A. |
6 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. Sgt Snider, S.J. [Snider (4th CCU)] |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. F/O Cardinale, O.A. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. |
2 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Willard, J.A. S/Sgt Hinker, C.V. |
3 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
| 4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Stein, L.C. |
6 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Fleming, L.R. Capt Chidley, H.W. [Chidley (Weather)] |
2 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. S/Sgt Draft, L.B. |
3 669th 43-22496 2A-L A-26C Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
| 4 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
5 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Wilson, R.P. |
6 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Capt Shapard, J.M. S/Sgt Clark, R.A. |
| SPARE 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Sgt Messinger, R.W. |
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Errotabere, M. Lt Wilbur, M.F. Sgt Lynch, P.R. |
3 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. F/O Brandt, C.W. S/Sgt Steffey, R.I. |
| 4 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
5 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
6 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Jacobsen, O.F. F/O Harvest, R.W. S/Sgt Pettinicchi, A. |
2 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. S/Sgt Stewart, A.B. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. S/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
| 4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
6 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
| 1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Popeney, H.V. Lt Fry, C.F. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
2 670th 41-39232 F6-K A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. Sgt Harmon, C.D. |
3 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
| 4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
5 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Cpl Homler, R.K. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mulzet, O.F. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. [Scheuerman (4th CCU)] |
| SPARE 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 255 -- March 26, 1945, Monday PM
Gemunden, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The Gemunden marshalling yards were successfully attacked on the following day, the 26th. The target was a great distance from our base, but, because of the rapid advances made by General Patton's troops, it was just a few miles ahead of the bomb line in his sector. The yards were the junction point of four separate rail lines. Two superiors and three excellents were scored. The choke points, tracks, cars, and surrounding workshops were destroyed or severely damaged. Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Brewer, B&N, and Lt. Buskirk, with Lt. Hanna, B-N, led the two boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 241 - 242
Mission #255 - 26 March - Gemunden Marshalling Yard. This target was quite a distance from our base, but because of the rapid advances made by General Patton's troops, it was just a few miles ahead of the bomb line in his sector. The yards were the junction point of four separate rail lines. Again, two superiors and three excellents were the ratings of the bombing teams. The choke points, tracks, cars, and surrounding work shops were destroyed or severely damaged. New Box leading teams headed up this mission, they being Lt. Claude Brown and Lt. Jim Kerns with Lt. Brewer, BNs and Lts. J. A. Buskirk and R.C. Hanna BN.- Lt. Fero and F/O Langsam led a flight.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The target for the morning mission of March 26th was the Gemunden Marshalling Yards. Although the target was only a short distance to the east of the bomb line, it meant that our aircraft had to fly a tremendous distance to reach it. Excellent results were obtained by the flights led by Lt. Col. Napier, with Lt. Moore and Flight Officer Cardinale, and Lt. Blomgren, with Lt. Johnson as his Bombardier-Navigator.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The following day, 26 March, the Gemunden Marshalling Yards in Germany were hit. This target was a great distance from the base, just a few miles ahead of General Patton's rapidly advancing troops. Excellent results were achieved. No enemy opposition was encountered.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
The 416th put a new box-leading pair into operations on March 26th 1945 as Lt. Claude J. Brown and Lt. James E. Kerns took the formation and Lt. John A. Buskirk and Lt. Robert C. Hanna the second boxàagainst the Gemunden Marshalling Yard on a line leading into Frankfurt. The 671st combinations scored superior ratings and took the formation in and out without loss or damage. This attack followed up the blows against three other M/Ys the previous afternoon. Other 9th Bomb Division Groups hit two other yards.
Smoke prevented Lt. Kerns from picking up the DMPI. Instead he picked a SMPI adjacent to a group of buildings and plastered the tracks and buildings with superior results. The two flights following him scored excellent results on other objects in the yard. Lt. Hanna, managing to see the DMPI through the smoke, dropped with superior results. The bombs hitting buildings, tracks and roads.
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[March 26, 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 26, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |