Loading List 1, Box I
Note: Brig. Gen. Backus Also Flew On This Mission




Loading List 2, Box II




Loading List 3, Box III




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) xV456523
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet X8 - "Wels" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - Army Map Service Topographic Map Series,
Central Europe, Series M641, 1:100,000, U.S. Army Map Service, 1943-,
Wels sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)



The marshalling yard at
Attnang-Puchheim was also atacked on 21 Apr 1945
by B-17s of the 301st Bomb Group (Heavy) out of North Africa
and by Liberators of the 461st Bomb Group (Heavy) out of Italy.
(Mission Photo Courtesy Of Phil Stanley)




Before and After Photos Of Attnang-Pucheim Marshalling Yard
(Courtesy AFHRA)

Missing Air Crew Reports, Aircraft Accident Reports, and other incidents

Date	Report		A/C Serial # Type	Mis- sion #	Bomb Sq	Location	Personnel (Status when available)
Apr 21, 1945 Saturday	No_Report		41-39319 A-26B	280	669	A-69 Laon/Athies, France	Hackley, Robley H. (Not Injured) Hawk, Olin T. (Not Injured)

To view more information regarding an Incident/Report, click on the Report hyperlink.
( = Entries having actual Reports available for review.   = Entries having additional Images or Photos.)
To view an individual's Memorial page, click on the "Name" hyperlink.

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 280 -- April 21, 1945, Saturday AM
Attnang-Puchheim, Germany -- Marshalling Yards

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

Again on the 21st, our Group, for the second time in a month, was the first Ninth Air Force bomber group to strike a new country, Austria. The target was the Attang-Puecheim marshalling yards, about 25 miles southeast of Linz, Austria, on the direct route to the National Redoubt area in western Austria. The trip, our longest to date, totaled 970 miles. Bad weather forced the formation down to 8,200 feet to bomb. High mountains in the area made this a dangerous altitude, but there were no accidents. The target was completely destroyed by the attack. The formation scored four superiors and three excellents. An estimated 300-350 freight cars were destroyed along with one roundhouse and 25 buildings. All tracks were severed as were several roads. The bomb patterns were exceptionally compact; four flights used impulse bombing.

Returning, some flights almost on the deck, the formation flew directly over an airfield at Erding. Crews reported that they could see Jerries scurrying for shelter as the formation approached, expecting to be bombed. When no bombs were dropped, they came out of hiding and fired weak, light flak at the last flight of the formation. Lt Hackley's plane suffered battle damage, but in return, his gunner, S/Sgt O.T. Hawk, fired at the Germans with his turret guns. He inflicted some light damage before his guns jammed.

There were many observations. On the airfield at Erding, as many as 50 planes were reported, including ME 109s, HE 111s, JU 88s, JU 52s, and ME 163s. None of the planes challenged our formation, however. Special convoys were sighted, including one large armored convoy--this convoy was reported immediately to fighter-ground control. Several trains were also reported.

Weather at the Base was getting steadily worse, so that 40 planes were diverted to A-64 for the night. Two others were diverted to Y-64.

The leaders of the three boxes were Capt Evans (Lts McCartney and Myrrold, B&N), Capt Stanley (F/O Blount, B-N) and Lt D.O. Turner (Lts McGivern and Morley, B&N).

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 256 - 257

Mission #280 - 21 April - Attang-Pucheim Marshalling Yard. We were the first 9th Air Force group to bomb in Austrian territory for the second time in a month. This target was on the main route to the National Redoubt (retreat?) area in western Austria. This was a 97O mile trip for our formation, pretty long for A-26s. Inclement weather forced the formation down to about 8200 feet and the bombing was again scored superior and excellents. Getting down to near 8000 feet was just about scraping the tops of the Austrian Alps, but no one bumped into one. From 300 to 350 railroad cars, along with a roundhouse and 25 buildings were demolished. All tracks were severed and roads cratered. Four flights used impulse bombing. No flak bothered the group. Weather caused returning flights down low and as the formation approached an airfield near Erding, our crews reported they saw Germans scurrying for cover, probably expecting to be bombed. When no bombs dropped, they ran to their anti-aircraft guns and started firing at the last flight, with no damage. As many as 50 planes were reported parked at this airfield, including ME 1O9s, JU 88s, JU 52s and ME 163s, none of which challenged our group, A large convoy was sighted and reported to fighter-ground control for them to go in and blow them off the roads. Weather at our base was closing in, so the 40 planes were diverted to A-64 for the night. Two were diverted to A-67. The leaders of the boxes were Captain Evans with Lts. McCartney and Mynold BNs, Captain Stanley with F/O Blount BN and Lt. D. O. Turner with Lts. McGivern and Morley, BNs. Flight leaders included Lt. Popeney with Lts. Fry and Pepper BNs, - Lt. Hall with F/O Goss and Lt. Pavey, and Lt. Van Noorden and F/O Brandt.

"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

One of the longest operations ever flown by A-26 type aircraft was flown on the twenty-first of April. The Attnang-Pucheim Marshalling Yards, in Austria, were bombed. The total distance traveled by the aircraft on this mission was 970 miles. Cloud cover forced the formation down to 8,200 feet in order that visual bombing could be accomplished. High mountains in the target area increased the hazards encountered by the combat crews. Despite all the handicaps, superior results were achieved by the Bombardiers. On the return trip, the aircraft flew over a number of German airfields, still in enemy hands. One of them, located at Erding, sent up some meagre light flak when the last flight of the formation passed overhead. Lt. Hackley's airplane was damaged by this anti-aircraft fire, but he brought his aircraft back safely.

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Mission No. 280, flown on 21 April 1945, had 12 of our crews. In an attack on the Attnang-Pucheim Marshalling Yard the crews received superior to excellent results. For the second time in a month the 416th was the first Bomb Group to bomb virgin country amongst 9th Air Force Bomb Groups, crossing the Austrian border for the first time. Our flights were led by Lt. Popeney/Lt Fry/Lt Peppers and Lt. Hall/F/O Goss and Lt. Pavey. Three gunners, S/Sgt. Donald E. Burns, Millard Hall and James A. Hummer, departed today for the Zone of the Interior after completion of their tour of missions.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

April 21st, 1945

Crossing the Austrian border for the first time the A-69 Invaders struck at the Attnang-Pucheim, Austria railway yard on April 21st 1945. Due to a cloud ceiling the ships had to bomb from 8,000 feet. Seven flights attacked the installĦation with four superior and three excellent results. Lt. Van Noorden and F/O Brandt on their second lead mission annexed one of the superiors, their record now being an excellent and a superior in two tries. Rail lines were cut, buildings were destroyed and explosions resulted all over the yard.

The rail yard, containing 42 sidings, was attacked to cut the main line from Vienna leading into the Nazis' redoubt area of Southern Germany and to destroy military supplies. Flak was not encountered. Weather forced the formaĦtion to land at St. Deziers, about 100 miles southeast of Laon. The ships returned the next morning.

[April 21, 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 21, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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