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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 270 -- April 12, 1945, Thursday AM Kempten, Germany Ordnance Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 270 -- April 12, 1945, Thursday AM Kempten, Germany Ordnance Depot
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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: WK-945076 Secondary Target : Suitable Alternate at least 10 miles from Swiss Border Summary of Results : No attack - Heavy clouds and rain over primary and secondary targets. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 47.73873,10.33189 (47° 44' 19" N, 10° 19' 55" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wX945076) (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 # 270 -- April 12, 1945, Thursday AM
Kempten, Germany -- Ordnance Depot
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Maj Ferris, C.H. Lt Kirk, R.L. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt Rio, D.J. [Impulse Bombing Flight] |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
3 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Cpl Wilson, B.R. |
| 4 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
5 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. S/Sgt Torres, I. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mulzet, O.F. |
| 1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Lt Parker, P.E. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. [Impulse Bombing Flight] |
2 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
3 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
| 4 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. Sgt Spence, J.I. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Rivard, C.J. [Returned Early Faulty engine cooling] |
6 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Zeimet, L.R. Sgt Ray, R.K. |
| 1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Lt Laseter, W.H. Lt Schlefer, M.P. Sgt Cross, R.M. |
2 668th 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
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 Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Gooch, H.I. |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Sgt Newman, F. S/Sgt Jordan, D.W. |
6 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Long, R.H. S/Sgt Hicks, C.M. |
| 1 670th 41-39398 F6-Q A-26B Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. F/O Conley, F.J. S/Sgt Gatti, R.J. |
2 670th 41-39232 F6-N A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Plant, R. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Hudnutt, L.W. |
5 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Caudell, S.R. |
6 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. S/Sgt Wood, W.D. |
2 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. S/Sgt Messinger, R.W. |
3 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Davis, W.G., Jr. |
| 4 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Ames, W.H. S/Sgt Barber, F.E. |
5 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Wright, J.R. S/Sgt Simon, D.O. |
6 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Schmidt, K.W. Col Stromme, J.L. [Stromme (ETOUSA Reclassification Specialist)] |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Maj Sommers, H.L. Lt Kupits, J. Lt Dant, N.B. S/Sgt Heath, K. [Impulse Bombing Flight] |
2 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
3 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| 4 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Walters, J.H. |
5 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. S/Sgt Gillespie, R.H. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Wilson, R.P. |
| 1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. [Impulse Bombing Flight] |
2 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. S/Sgt Chest, D. |
3 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Schumacher, R.C. |
| 4 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. S/Sgt Rose, J.W. |
5 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Sgt Helt, A. |
6 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 270 -- April 12, 1945, Thursday AM
Kempten, Germany -- Ordnance Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Going into territory never before attacked by our Group, 42 planes took off in the morning of the 12th to attack the Kempten ordnance depot near the Swiss border. Previous to this time, tactical targets in that area had been attacked almost solely by the First TAF. Weather over the base was cloudy. It became worse over enemy territory. The formation flew through almost an hour of rain. The target was to be attacked visually only because of the proximity of a POW camp. The cloud base was at about 5500 feet, making an attack impossible. To drop any lower would have forced the formation to fly over mountain ranges, which rose up that high. The planes returned with their 500-pound incendiary bombs.
One bomb inside Major Ferris' plane broke open inside the bomb bay. He opened his doors over the practice bombing range and got rid of the dangerous load.
Enroute to the target, six bursts of inaccurate flak were seen crossing the bomb line.
Through small breaks in the clouds, crews were able to see German airfields. Several of them appeared to be in excellent condition, but deserted. The box leaders were Major Ferris, Lt Brewster, and Capt Pair.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 252
Mission #270 - 12 April - AM - Kempton Ordnance Depot. This target was located near the Swiss border, an area never before attacked by our Group, but we sent 42 planes out, all of which returned with their bombs because they ran into rain and bad weather. The formation flew into the rain for one hour before the recall. The target was to be attacked visually because of it being close to a POW Camp. The cloud cover was up to 5500 feet, making visual contact out of the question. To drop any lower, the planes would have been scraping the top of very high mountains. One bomb in Major Ferris' plane came loose and dropped on the bomb bay door. Major Ferris dropped it on the bombing range before landing at our base. Through some breaks in the clouds crews reported seeing German Airfields, deserted, but in apparent excellent condition. Major Ferris with Lts. Kirk and McNutt BNs, and Lts. Brewster and Dennis BN, Captain Pair and Corum BN, led the boxes. Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr BN led flights. Captain Moore had Colonel J. L. Stromme with him as an observer.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The Kempton Ordnance Depot, near the frontier of Switzerland, was the target of the Twelfth of April. Lts. Kupits and Dant served as Navigator and Bombardier for Major Sommers. They led the Third Flight of the Second Box of the formation.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The 12th April 45 found Major Ferris, Lt. Kirk and Lt. McNutt leading the formation on mission no. 270, with Lt. Brewster and Lt. Dennis leading the second box. Rain and clouds prevented bombing the target, the Kempton Ordnance Depot, and the aircraft returned with bombs. One bomb broke loose in the bombay of Major Ferris' aircraft. He lined aircraft up on a bombing range, opened bombay doors and released clusters in area, preventing any mishap from the loose bomb.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 12th, 1945
Congratulations by Ninth Bomb Division Chief, General Anderson, were bestowed upon the 416 Bomb Group for the job they did on the bombing of the Hof Railroad Bridge on the afternoon of April 12th 1945. General Anderson stated that reports indicated that this very important bridge was definitely rendered unserviceable by the attack. The Group dispatched four flights to this target and on superior and three excellents were scored. The bridge is located just a few miles from the Czechoslovakian border.
The 671st Squadron can claim more than its share of credit for Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns led the formation to the target and dropped their bombs with excellent results. Continue on the next page.
The group encountered rough weather on route to the target, but Brown and Kerns led the ships through the clouds, rain and haze. Bombing was done from 5000 to 5500 feet.
The Group was dispatched in the morning to the Kempton Ordnance Depot, but the formations ran into rainstorms and were recalled. This was the case with seven other groups that were dispatched in the morning also.
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[April 12, 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 12, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |