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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 260 -- April 3, 1945, Tuesday PM Hameln, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 260 -- April 3, 1945, Tuesday PM Hameln, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 38 A-26's, 1 B-26 (PFF) Modified British System Reference: C-129908 Secondary Target : Bad Pyrmont (C-048780) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to cloud cover. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 52.10395,9.38467 (52° 6' 14" N, 9° 23' 5" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rC129908) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ) |
| Date | Report |   |
A/C Serial # Type |
Mis- sion # |
Bomb Sq |
Location | Personnel (Status when available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1945 Tuesday |
No_Report | 43-22321 A-26B |
260 | 668 | A-69 Laon/Athies, France | Phillips, James Potter (Not Injured)
Calabrese, Conrad L. (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 260 -- April 3, 1945, Tuesday PM
Hameln, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Lt Col Willetts, D.L. Lt Powell, V.H. Lt Reeves, F.A., Jr. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
2 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
3 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
5 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. S/Sgt Kaminski, C.J. [Not Airborne Oil pressure - engine heating up] |
6 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Youlios, D., Jr. S/Sgt Jordan, D.W. |
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Lt Grunig, D.B. Lt Morris, B.C. S/Sgt Friday, L.R. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Errotabere, M. Lt Wilbur, M.F. S/Sgt Hall, M. |
3 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Sgt Riggs, P.H. |
| 4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. S/Sgt Elliott, F.W. |
5 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mulzet, O.F. |
6 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. Cpl Showers, M.W. |
| 1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. |
2 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. S/Sgt Gatti, R.J. |
3 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Harris, M.C. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
5 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
6 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
| SPARE 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Stein, L.C. |
| 1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. Lt Myrold, H.E. Sgt Newman, F. Lt LaHaye, W.H. [LaHaye (Weather)] |
2 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Windisch, R.P. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. S/Sgt Cross, R.M. |
| 4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. S/Sgt Singleton, L.E. |
5 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Fidler, W.H. |
6 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. |
2 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
3 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Dubi, R.J. |
| 4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Capt Sommers, H.L. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
5 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
| 1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. Sgt Schwartzapel, D. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Buckley, W.C. |
3 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Gross, V.F. |
| 4 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. Sgt Schmidt, K.W. |
5 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Wright, J.R. Sgt Ruskiewich, J.J. |
6 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. Sgt Fidler, E.W. T/Sgt Childs, H.A. [Childs (4th CCU)] |
| SPARE 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Wilson, R.P. |
CAMERA 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Miller, H.K. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. Sgt Snider, S.J. [Scheuerman, Snider (4th CCU)] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 260 -- April 3, 1945, Tuesday PM
Hameln, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Mission #260, the first mission in April, was flown on the third. It was an attack in which 76 tons of bombs were dropped on the marshalling yards at Hemeln, using PPF technique. The formation climbed to 16,000 feet trying to reach the I.P. due to the clouds. Climbing 500 feet higher, the bombs were released at 16,500 feet. A few crews reported that through a small break in the clouds they saw the bombs bursting in the yards and in the town. The formation encountered weak but accurate flak between the I.P. and the target. A few bursts also came up at the R.P. where Lt James P. Phillips' plane was hit. He feathered his engine and returned to base on single engine. He was able to get the engine operating over our base and landed on both engines although he was able to get very little power from his damaged engine. The formation split up after leaving the target in bad weather. Major Sommers headed back alone and traveled directly across the Ruhr pocket which our troops had created. At low altitude, his gunner, Staff Sergeant Kalen Heath, fired at a few flak guns as he sped by but he could make no claims. The box leaders were Lt Col Willetts, with Lts Powell and Reeves B&N, and Capt Evans, with Lts McCartney and Myrrold, B&N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 247
Mission #260 - 3 April - Hemeln Marshalling Yard. This was an attack on which 76 tons of bombs were dropped, using PFF pathfinder leaders. The formation had to climb to 16,000 feet. (remember we didn't have oxygen masks, making us wonder why some of the guys didn't feel the affects. Now if I go to an 11,000 foot altitude on ski slopes, I can't catch my breath). A few crews reported that through a small break in the clouds they saw the bombs bursting in the yards and in the town. The formation encountered weak but accurate flak between the I.P. and the tar get A few bursts also came up at the rendezvous point where Lt. James R. Phillips' plane was hit. He feathered his engine and returned to base on single engine.
He was able to get the engine operating over our base and landed with both engines although he was able to get very little power from his damaged engine. The formation split up after leaving the target in bad weather. Major Sommers headed back alone and traveled directly across the Ruhr pocket, which our troops created. His Gunner, Staff Sergeant Kalen Heath, fired at a few flak guns as he sped by, but he could make no claims. The box leaders were Major McNulty with Lts. Powell and Reeves as BNs and Captain Evans with Lts. McCartney and Myrrold, BNs. Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr led a flight.
The Group just received a report that reconnaissance revealed that the Colbe Railroad Bridge, 20 miles north of Geissen was completely destroyed by the 416th's attack on the afternoon of 24 March 1945. Four flights hit the bridge with superior to good results.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Operational Mission # 260 was flown on the 3rd of April. An attack was made on the Hammeln Marshalling Yards by the use of PFF technique. It was necessary for the formation to go up to 16,000 feet at the Initial Point in order to take the bombing run. Cloud cover made it impossible for photographs to be taken, but visual observation through a break in the clouds disclosed that good results had been obtained. Lt. Col. Napier, with his B/N Lt. Moore, led the second box of the formation.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The month of April opened with weather too poor for combat operations on April 1 and 2. Capt. Henry W. Browman moved to the 97th Combat Wing (L) on temporary duty for a period of thirty days. S/Sgt. Henry Nowosielski Jr. after completing his tour of missions left the squadron on the 3rd of April for the 70th Reinforcement Depot and the first step of his journey home. The first mission of the month, in which 36 A-26 and 2 PFF aircraft participated was against Hameln Marshaling Yards. 12 aircraft of this squadron were on the mission. Due to cloud cover there was no photo coverage but crews believed that the results were good.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
After a two-day sojourn the 416th went back on their long range operations and bombed by Pathfinder method the Hameln Marshalling Yards with undetermined results. Flak was not encountered and all crews returned safely.
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[April 3, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, April 3, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |