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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 279 -- April 20, 1945, Friday PM Annaburg, Germany Fuel Storage Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 279 -- April 20, 1945, Friday PM Annaburg, Germany Fuel Storage Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 43 Total -- 43 A-26's Modified British System Reference: RE-654597 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Two Superior, four Excellent, and three NAO scores. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.72022,13.02942 (51° 43' 13" N, 13° 1' 46" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rE654597) (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 20, 1945 Friday |
No_Report | 41-39325 A-26B |
279 | 668 | A-69 Laon/Athies, France | Hale, Wilbur L. (Not Injured)
Geyer, John Franklin (Not Injured) |
= Entries having actual Reports available for review. = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)Mission Loading Lists Transcription
Mission # 279 -- April 20, 1945, Friday PM
Annaburg, Germany -- Fuel Storage Depot
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Maj Dunn, L.F. Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Buckley, W.C. |
3 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt MacCartney, W.A. |
| 4 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Schoen, A.E., Jr. [A/C Went Out for left main starter shaft broken] |
5 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Sgt Hardin, M.F. |
6 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. S/Sgt Miguez, J.H. |
| 1 669th 43-22304 2A-T A-26C Lt Jordan, C.S. Lt Mulgrew, R.P. Lt Morley, B.J. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F. |
2 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. Lt Britt, J.W. S/Sgt Draft, L.B. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
| 4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
5 669th 41-39319 2A-A A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Reiter, G.E. S/Sgt Kruger, C.J. |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. Sgt Sumner, W.R., Jr. |
| 1 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Lt Turner, D.O., Jr. Lt McGivern, P.J. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. |
2 669th 41-39393 2A-M A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Dubi, R.J. |
3 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
| 4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Reid, K.A. |
5 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Wright, H.T. |
| 1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
2 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. |
3 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Farmer, L.J. |
| 4 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Platter, E.T. Capt Fontaine, R.A., Jr. |
6 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Price, D.L. S/Sgt McNellis, D.E. |
| 1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Lt Parker, P.E. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Geyer, J.F. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
| 4 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
5 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Long, R.H. S/Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
6 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. S/Sgt VanGalder, D.W. |
| 1 670th 41-39398 F6-Q A-26B Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Sheehan, W.E., Jr. S/Sgt Langley, T.R. |
2 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. S/Sgt Basile, A.C. |
3 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Ford, R. Sgt Thompson, C.J. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
5 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Cpl Finnell, D.O. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. S/Sgt Lynch, P.R. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Prucha, L.J. Lt Reeves, F.A., Jr. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
2 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
3 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
| 4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Sgt Hawk, D.W. |
6 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. Sgt Kaminski, C.J. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 279 -- April 20, 1945, Friday PM
Annaburg, Germany -- Fuel Storage Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
In the afternoon of the 20th, the German Air Force fuel storage depot at Annaburg was attacked. Dropping 100 pound demolition bombs, the attack, which started many fires, was highly successful. Many roads were cut, 12 buildings destroyed, and 500 hits were scored in the fuel storage area. There was no flak.
Lt Hale landed his plane with a flat tire. The propeller was bent as the plane swerved of the runway over rough ground. There was no further injury to the plane or crew.
Three boxes made the attack. They were led by Major Dunn (Lts Brewer and Hanna, B&N) and Lt Brown (Lt Kerns,B-N), and Lt Prucha (Lt Reeves, B-N).
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 256
Mission #279 - 20 April - PM - Annaburg Fuel Depot. Demolition bombs started many fires on this target (When aren't any bombs demolition?) scoring very successful results. About 500 hits were counted on the fuel storage area, and roads leading in /out of the target were severly damaged. Superior and excellents were scored by the flights. Three boxes made this mission with Box I led by Major Dunn with Lts. Brewer and Hanna BNs Lts. Brown with Lt. Kerns BN, and Lt. Prucha with Lt. Reeves, as BN. Another brand new pilot BN team Lt. Barausky and Lt. Sheehan led a flight, with success.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
A Fuel Storage Depot at Annaburg was the target for the afternoon mission. Superior results were attained by the flights led by Lts. Jordan and Turner. Lt. Jordan led the Second Flight of the First Box and had Lts. Mulgrew and Morley flying with him. Lt. Turner led the Third Flight of the First Box and had Lt. McGivern as his Bombardier-Navigator.
"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 |