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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 274 -- April 16, 1945, Monday PM Wittenburg, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 274 -- April 16, 1945, Monday PM Wittenburg, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 39 Total -- 39 A-26's Modified British System Reference: RE-391743 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Only 7 a/c bombed, remaining did not attack because clouds, haze and smoke obscured target. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.86714,12.66343 (51° 52' 2" N, 12° 39' 48" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rE391743) (See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information.) |
Route Map
Loading List
1, Box I
One Camera Aircraft Also Assigned To This Mission
Loading List 2, Box II
Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 274 -- April 16, 1945, Monday PM
Wittenburg, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 670th 41-39398 F6-Q A-26B Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. Lt Myrold, H.E. S/Sgt Merritt, O.N. |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
3 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Plant, R. |
| 4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
5 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mulzet, O.R. |
6 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Cpl Homler, R.K. |
| 1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Lt Parker, P.E. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Prucha, L.J. Lt Reeves, F.A. S/Sgt Ferguson, L.C. |
3 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
| 4 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
5 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
6 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J. S/Sgt Skeens, C.L. |
| 1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Lt Laseter, W.H. Lt Schlefer, M.P. S/Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
2 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Spence, J.I. |
3 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
5 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Miller, W.A. |
6 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Windisch, R.P. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Kirik, S.J. |
CAMERA 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. T/Sgt Childs, H.A. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. |
| 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 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Sheehan, W.L. Cpl Wilson, B.R. |
3 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
| 4 670th 41-39232 F6-N A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. Sgt Sgroi, A.P. Sgt Mirabella, P.A. |
5 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
6 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
| 1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. S/Sgt Schwartzapel, D. |
2 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. |
3 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. S/Sgt Messinger, R.W. |
| 4 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Davis, W.G. |
5 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Capt Nielsen, L.C. S/Sgt Schmidt, K.W. |
6 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Price, D.L. S/Sgt Barber, F.E. S/Sgt Miller, H.K. |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Maj Sommers, H.L. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Heath, K. Capt Murphy, G.D. |
2 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
3 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| 4 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. Lt Britt, J.W. Sgt Dalton, A.A. |
5 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Dubi, R. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. S/Sgt Gillespie, R.H. Sgt Snider, S.J. |
| SPARE 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 274 -- April 16, 1945, Monday PM
Wittenburg, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The target in the afternoon was the Wittenburg marshalling yards. Only one flight, led by Lt Parker, Lt Shaft, B-N, was able to make an attack because of dense smoke and clouds. This flight flew a slightly different course, which enabled the bombardier to see the target. Crew members reported excellent results. Moderate to intense, accurate flak was encountered at the target and on the turn off, but only two planes received battle damage. The two box leaders were Capt Evans (Lts McCartney and Myrrold, B&N) and Lt Brewster (Lt Dennis and F/O Conley, B&N).
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 254
Mission #274 - 16 April - PM - Wittenberg Marshalling Yard. The flight to the target was uneventful except bad weather moved in making the aiming point invisible to all flights except one. This flight took a different bomb run from the scheduled Initial Point and got to drop his bombs with what was determined to be an excellent shot. Moderate intense, accurate flak came up at the target area and on the turn off, with two planes receiving battle damage. Captain Evans with Lt. McCartney BN led Box I with Lt. Brewster and Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley BNs on Box II. Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr BN led a flight.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the afternoon of the sixteenth, the Wittenburg Marshalling Yards were attacked with undetermined results. Cloud cover made it impossible for all but one flight of the formation to attack. The results of the bombing done by this one flight were obscured. Major Sommers led one of the flights of the formation with Lt. Kupits as his B/N. Capt. Murphy, our squadron Flight Surgeon, flew along as Observer in Major Sommers' airplane.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were again flown on 16 April 1945. The morning mission, No. 273, target, the Zerbst Communication center against which excellent results were achieved. Our flight was led by Lt. Warren and Lt. Forbes. No. 274 was flown in the afternoon with 11 of our crews taking part. The target was Wittenburg Marshalling Yard, and the results were undetermined. Our crews were scheduled to lead both boxes, but Capt. Evans of the 668th squadron led the first box with our wingmen and Lt. Brewster with Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley led the second box. On this day Sgt. Elmer J. Willever, a gunner, was transferred to the 323rd Bomb Group. A memorial service in honor of our deceased President was conducted with nearly all of the 416th Group personnel and the 4th Service Group personnel present. Chaplains Penticoff and Doyle gave excellent talks during the service.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
Striking close to the heart of Germany – Berlin, the A-69 Invaders hit two marshalling yards southwest of the city on April 16th 1945. In the morning the Group attacked the yards in Zerbst, dropping incendiaries on the buildings, tracks and cars with successful results. Fires were started in the center of the yard and spread rapidly. Flak was encountered on the bomb run, but all ships returned for the morning sortie.
The formation which was to attack the Wittenburg Marshalling Yard in the afternoon ran into bad weather near the target area and only one flight was able to bomb. A thick haze and clouds obscured the target, results being undetermined. Two ships received battle damage, but all crews returned safely.
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[April 16, 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 16, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |