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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 278 -- April 20, 1945, Friday AM Deggendorf, Germany Oil Storage Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 278 -- April 20, 1945, Friday AM Deggendorf, Germany Oil Storage Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 44 Total -- 44 A-26's Modified British System Reference: WU-840374 Summary of Results : Flights scored two Superior, two Excellent, two NAO and one Undetermined. One a/c bombed Viechtach. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.81661,12.97403 (48° 48' 60" N, 12° 58' 27" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wU840374) (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 # 278 -- April 20, 1945, Friday AM
Deggendorf, Germany -- Oil Storage 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. |
2 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Sgt Raccio, V.B. |
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 Ricketson, J.J. |
5 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Kimball, A.H. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. Sgt Brennan, J.D. |
| 1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Lt Annin, W.W. Lt Martin, R.L. S/Sgt Rivard, C.J. |
2 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Gandy, R.S. |
3 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Fidler, W.H. |
| 4 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
5 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. S/Sgt Newman, F. |
6 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. Sgt Schwartzkopf, J.R. |
| 1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Lt Laseter, W.H. Lt Schlefer, M.P. S/Sgt Cross, R.M. |
2 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. S/Sgt Stewart, A.B. |
3 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. S/Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. S/Sgt Williford, C.W. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
5 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. S/Sgt Hicks, C.M. |
6 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Capt Shapard, J.M. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| 1 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. F/O Conley, F.J. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. |
2 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Maj Conant, H.F. Lt Page, L.J. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
3 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O. |
| 4 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. S/Sgt Sgroi, A.P. |
5 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. Sgt Eddy, K.A. |
6 669th 41-39393 2A-M A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
| 1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. |
2 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. |
3 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
| 4 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Gary, J.C. S/Sgt Eaton, A.B. |
5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Price, D.L. S/Sgt McNellis, D.E. |
6 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Turner, E.O. Lt McGivern, P.J. Lt Morley, B.J. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. |
2 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Lt Britt, J.W. Sgt Stein, L.C. |
3 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. Sgt Reid, K.A. |
| 4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Maj Sommers, H.L. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
5 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
6 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. S/Sgt Wood, W.D. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Schumacher, R.C. |
3 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt Redding, R.D. |
| 4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. Lt Sampson, T.W. [Sampson (Intel)] |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. S/Sgt Messinger, R.W. |
6 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 278 -- April 20, 1945, Friday AM
Deggendorf, Germany -- Oil Storage Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Two equally successful attacks on the 20th went a long way toward striking the knockout punch to Hitler's armored and air might. In the morning, the Deggendorf ordnance depot was left buried under smoke and flames. Four flights used impulse bombing very successfully. The depot was severely damaged; 30-35 hits on storage buildings, 15-20 hits on railroad tracks, 10-15 hits on smaller buildings, and 5-10 hits on roads. Damage cause by two flights could not be assessed because of the smoke and flames.
When the bombs in one plane would not release over the target, his flight leader led him to the town of Viechtach, which he bombed with excellent results. Moderate, accurate flak was fired at the flight from this town, but there was no battle damage. The rest of the formation did not experience any flak.
The two boxes of 44 planes were led by Major Ferris (Lts Kirk and McNutt, 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
Pages 255 - 256
Mission #278 - 20 April - AM - Deggendorf Ordnance Depot.
This target on the Danube River not too far from Munich was hit
with 1000 pound bombs, again with devastating results. Flames
and smoke rose to 9000 feet, attesting to the accuracy of the hits.
Again, superior and Excellent results were scored. The depot
was severely damaged with 30 to 35 hits on smaller buildings
and ten hits on the roads. One plane had a problem getting his
bombs to release, but his flight leader took him over Viechtach,
where they shook the bombs out, doing considerable damage
there. No flak or fighters came close to the formation.
The two boxes of a total of 44 planes were led by Major
Ferris with Lts. Kirk and McNutt, BNs. Lt. Brewster with Lt.
Dennis and F/O Conley, BNs. Captain Pair and Lt. Corum BN,
- Captain Tutt and Lt. Orr BN, and Lt. Fero and Lt. Sampson led
flights.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Our pilot-bombardier teams continued to hit the assigned targets, inflicting damage upon the enemy's remaining communications centers and storage dumps, which materially hastened the final victory. On 11 April, Major McNulty and Lt Powell scored a "superior" in an attack on Bernburg Marshalling Yard. The following day, Lt Paul E. Parker and Lt Robert E. Shaft led a flight against a rail bridge at Hof, also with "superior" results. On 20 April the bombing of the flight led by Lt William Laseter and Lt Mark P. Schlefer on Deggendorf Oil Storage Depot rated a "superior". On 21 April the team of Captain Evans and Lt McCartney continued its excellent combat record with a "superior" for the bombing of Attnung-Pucheim Marshalling Yard.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The twentieth of the month was another day when two missions were flown. An Oil Storage Depot at Deggendorf was the target for the morning mission. Superior results were obtained by the flight led by Lt. Turner, with Lts. McGivern and Morley serving as his Bombardier and Navigator respectively.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Mission No. 278 flown on the morning of 20 April 1945 produced excellent to superior results against Deggendorf Oil Storage Depot. 1000 pound GP bombs were used on this mission. 12 of our aircraft participated, with Major Ferris/Lt. Kirk and Lt. McNutt leading the formation. Major Ferris's flight had superior bombing. Lt. Brewster/Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley led the second box and scored excellent results. The second mission for the day, No. 279, again produced excellent to superior results in an attack on Annaburg Storage Depot. 6 of our crews flew on this mission with Lt. Barausky and Lt. Sheehan leading a flight, for the first time on a mission, with excellent results. One of the original crew members who came overseas with this squadron, Capt. Frank J. Harrold, Jr., left today for the 70th Reinforcement Depot on the first step of his journey to the Zone of the Interior for a 30 day leave. Capt. Harrold was the last of the West Point Officers to leave the squadron for leaves at home.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 20th, 1945
Two fuel depots were smashed by the 416th on the morning and afternoon of April 20th 1945. Both missions were run without loss or battle damage and results of both missions were very successful.
The target in the morning was the Deggendorf Oil Storage Depot, located on the Danube River, 75 miles northeast of Munnich. The thousand pound bombs caused large fires, the flames and smoke rising to almost 9,000 feet. Bombs from the two 671st flights fell into the smoke of previous flights and ratings were not given. Two superiors and two excellents and an undetermined were scored by the other flights.
In an after supper attack the 416th hit a fuel depot for the German Air Force south of Berlin at Annaburg with highly successful results. Major Dunn, Lt. Brewer and Lt. Hanna led the formation and as usual bombed the target with superior results. The center of the burst hit on the DMPI and the target was blanketed. Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns led the second box and due to the smoke and haze over the target area failed to hit on the DMPI. The bombs, however, cut roads in the area. The formation left the depot ablaze.
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[April 20, 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 20, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |