9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Mission # 283 -- April 26, 1945, Thursday AM

Plattling, Germany

Landing Grounds

 

WWII-Medal

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Summary of Operations

Field Order        : 270-873
OpRep #            : 26.0
Nature of Mission  : Bombing
Mission Status     : Attacked
Bombing Altitude   : 10,800 - 13,000 feet
Take-off Time      : 0918
Time Over Target   : 1134 - 1138
Landing Time       : 1415
Duration (Hrs:Min) : 4:57
 

Place of Take-Off  : A-69 Laon/Athies, France
A/C Dispatched     : 47 Total -- 47 A-26's
Modified British System Reference: WU-764350
Secondary Target   : No Alternate Targets Authorized
Summary of Results : Primary target scores - 2 Superior, 5 Excellent. One flight attacked 16 gun Flak Position, Undetermined results.

Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.79977,12.86849 (48° 47' 59" N, 12° 52' 7" E)
(Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wU764350)
(See Latitude/Longitude Coordinates and Target Identifiers for more information. Note: This coordinate represents the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)


Scanned original Mission 283 documents (multipage PDF files)

Mission Folder       Reports Folder       OpRep # 26       Fuel Use

If nothing happens on Click, check to see if the PDF file was automatically saved to your computer. Depending on Internet speed, the display or download may be slow.
These Public Domain, Declassified Mission documents were graciously provided to the 416th BG Archive by the dedicated staff of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
An on-line index of records held by AFHRA up to 2001 is available at Air Force History Index.org.
Most of these PDF files are unaltered originals provided by the AFHRA, a few have been re-organized.
Pages may be out of sequence; files may contain scanned blank pages and/or pages scanned upside-down; some pages may be included in more than one file.
The "Mission Folder" usually contains the majority of documents for a Mission, including Field Orders, Status Reports, Pilot Interrogations, Photos (if available), etc.




Loading List 1

Loading List 1, Box I
Three Additional Aircraft Assigned "Flak" Duty



Loading List 2

Loading List 2, Boxes II and III
Box II Erroneously Labeled "Box I" At Top Of Page
One Camera Aircraft Also Assigned To This Mission



Route Map

Route Map


Target Topo Map

Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wU764350
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet V7 - "Straubing" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Map Archive of Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny 1919 - 1939,
GSGS 4416 / AMS M641, 651, 671 Germany, Poland, Middle Danube 1:100,000,
Straubing sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)

(Annotated Full Map PDF)


Bomb Run Photo

Mission 283


Bomb Run Photo

Bomb Run Photo
(Lt. Robert S. Bower Combat Journal)



Mission Loading Lists Transcription

Mission # 283 -- April 26, 1945, Thursday AM
Plattling, Germany -- Landing Grounds

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.

Box I -- Flight I
  1  671st                   
  43-22497  5C-E  A-26C
  Lt Brown, C.J.
  Lt Brewer, W.E., Sr.
  Lt Kerns, J.E.
  S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E.
  2  671st                   
  43-22352  5C-J  A-26B
  Lt Mooney, S.
  Sgt Buckley, W.C.
 
 
  3  671st                   
  41-39249  5C-F  A-26B
  Lt Remiszewski, A.
  S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M.
 
 
  4  669th                   
  41-39393  2A-M  A-26B
  Lt Gary, J.C.
  Sgt Barry, R.M.
 
 
  5  671st                   
  41-39328  5C-D  A-26B
  Lt Cocke, J.B.
  Sgt Mowell, R.F.
  S/Sgt MacCartney, W.A.
 
  6  671st                   
  41-39250  5C-A  A-26B
  Lt Hlivko, A.E.
  Sgt Graub, R.E.
 
 

Box I -- Flight II
  1  669th                   
  43-22609  2A-N  A-26C
  Lt Turner, D.O., Jr.
  Lt McGivern, P.J.
  Lt Morley, B.J.
  S/Sgt Reyes, M.R.
  Capt Wade, H.W.
  2  669th                   
  43-22383  2A-V  A-26B
  Capt Shapard, J.M.
  S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W.
 
 
  3  669th                   
  43-22354  2A-S  A-26B
  Lt Weinert, C.E.
  Sgt Francis, R.D.
 
 
  4  669th                   
  41-39252  2A-D  A-26B
  Lt Allen, J.F., Jr.
  S/Sgt Getgen, L.R.
 
 
  5  669th                   
  41-39362  2A-Y  A-26B
  Lt Dunn, F.G.
  Lt Britt, J.W.
  Sgt Pikel, J.M.
 
  6  669th                   
  43-22381  2A-Q  A-26B
  F/O Swap, F.W.
  Sgt Santandrea, M.
 
 

Box I -- Flight III
  1  669th                   
  43-22304  2A-T  A-26C
  Lt Jordan, C.S.
  Lt Mulgrew, R.P.
  S/Sgt Jensen, K.F.
 
  2  669th                   
  41-39229  2A-B  A-26B
  Lt Housley, C.H.
  Sgt Block, P.J.
 
 
  3  669th                   
  41-39319  2A-A  A-26B
  Lt Harper, R.B.
  Sgt Black, R.M.
 
 
  4  669th                   
  41-39338  2A-O  A-26B
  Lt DuBose, M.W.
  S/Sgt Gilbert, C.
 
 
  5  669th                   
  41-39263  2A-G  A-26B
  Lt Poundstone, L.E.
  Sgt Sumner, W.R., Jr.
 
 
  6  669th                   
  41-39314  2A-H  A-26B
  Lt Smith, D.E.
  S/Sgt Burland, A.J.
 
 

Box I
  SPARE  670th               
  41-39315  F6-F  A-26B
  Lt Curtis, J.C.
  Sgt Mulzet, O.F.
 
 
                                                           

Box I -- Flight FLAK
  1  670th                   
  43-22677  F6-J  A-26C
  Lt Warren, J.R.
  Lt Forbes, T.M.
  S/Sgt Stroup, C.C., Jr.
 
  2  670th                   
  41-39286  F6-D  A-26B
  Lt Wallace, J.F.
  Sgt Plant, R.
 
 
  3  670th                   
  43-22334  F6-G  A-26B
  Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr.
  Sgt Raccio, V.B.
  S/Sgt Richards, D.B.
 


Box II -- Flight I
  1  671st                   
  43-22499  5C-G  A-26C
  Lt Buskirk, J.A.
  Lt Hanna, R.C.
  S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr.
  F/O Smetanka, P.L.
  2  671st                   
  41-39209  5C-M  A-26B
  Lt Spires, J.W.
  S/Sgt Davis, L.E.
 
 
  3  671st                   
  41-39265  5C-V  A-26B
  Lt Winn, A.J.P.
  S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G.
 
 
  4  671st                   
  43-22326  5C-W  A-26B
  Capt Sears, A.C.
  M/Sgt Wells, J.J.
 
 
  5  671st                   
  41-39300  5C-K  A-26B
  Lt Wallman, M.
  Sgt Helt, A.
 
 
  6  671st                   
  41-39239  5C-N  A-26B
  Lt Simpson, R.L.
  Sgt Stypenski, V.S.
  [A/C Went Out on ______ [?] Plug change]
 
 

Box II -- Flight II
  1  668th                   
  43-22484  5H-C  A-26C
  Lt Parker, P.E.
  Lt Shaft, R.E.
  S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C.
 
  2  670th                   
  41-39223  F6-B  A-26B
  Lt Carver, J.H.
  S/Sgt Stewart, A.B.
 
 
  3  668th                   
  41-39188  5H-R  A-26B
  Lt Blevins, J.W.
  S/Sgt Gentry, F., Jr.
 
 
  4  668th                   
  41-39352  5H-J  A-26B
  Lt Roberts, W.H.
  S/Sgt Hood, A.R.
 
 
  5  668th                   
  41-39233  5H-F  A-26B
  Lt Parkhurst, G.J.
  Sgt Hawk, D.W.
 
 
  6  668th                   
  41-39325  5H-L  A-26B
  Lt Long, R.H.
  S/Sgt McCarthy, C.J.
 
 

Box II -- Flight III
  1  670th                   
  43-22501  F6-W  A-26C
  Lt Heinke, W.R.
  Lt Rosenquist, A.E.
  S/Sgt VanWert, G.R.
 
  2  670th                   
  41-39212  F6-K  A-26B
  Maj Conant, H.F.
  S/Sgt Turpin, S.J.
 
 
  3  670th                   
  43-22315  F6-L  A-26B
  Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O.
  S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S.
  S/Sgt Elliott, F.W.
 
  4  670th                   
  41-39416  F6-O  A-26B
  Lt Errotabere, M.
  S/Sgt Lynch, P.R.
 
 
  5  670th                   
  41-39205  F6-M  A-26B
  Lt Turman, A.R.
  S/Sgt Licker, M.
 
 
  6  670th                   
  43-22320  F6-S  A-26B
  Lt Sheley, S.H.
  Sgt Corey, F.E.
 
 


Box III -- Flight I
  1  668th                   
  43-22640  5H-N  A-26C
  Lt Prucha, L.J.
  Lt Reeves, F.A., Jr.
  S/Sgt Ferguson, L.C.
 
  2  668th                   
  43-22385  5H-D  A-26B
  Lt Drum, E.B.
  Sgt Musarra, A.J.
 
 
  3  668th                   
  41-39259  5H-H  A-26B
  Lt Tank, F.R.
  S/Sgt VanGalder, D.W.
 
 
  4  668th                   
  43-22389  5H-X  A-26B
  Lt Cannon, L.E.
  T/Sgt Wilson, G.C.
 
 
  5  668th                   
  41-39274  5H-S  A-26B
  Lt Evarts, A.V.
  Sgt Fagan, C.D.
 
 
  6  668th                   
  41-39305  5H-U  A-26B
  Lt Zeimet, L.R.
  Sgt Ray, R.K.
 
 

Box III
  SPARE  670th               
  41-39224  F6-E  A-26B
  Lt Henson, A.G.
  Sgt Wright, H.T.
 
 
  CAMERA  670th             
  41-39398  F6-Q  A-26B
  Lt Bower, R.S.
  Sgt Rhoney, C.B.
  W/O Scheuerman, C.B.
  Sgt Snider, S.J.
  [Scheuerman, Snider (4th CCU)]
                             



Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 283 -- April 26, 1945, Thursday AM
Plattling, Germany -- Landing Grounds


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

As April drew toward a close, we had seen the bomb lines of our Armies and the Russian Armies pushing closer and closer together. Around the 20th, a security silence veiled the advance of the Reds. The Germans carried reports of Red troops on the outskirts of Berlin and other by-passing it to the south. Finally, a short but exciting TWX was posted on the situation map that the Red Army had linked up with the forces of the American First Army at Torgau, northeast of Leipzig. Germany was cut in half!

That afternoon, the 26th, 44 aircraft filled a landing ground at Platting, in the lower part of what remained of Germany, with bombs and bomb craters. A total of 968x100-lb pounds bombs fell on the landing ground; 66x100-lb fragmentation bombs kept flak gun positions silent while the main attack went on. There was no flak.

The pictures available at briefing were very out-dated and inadequate. When the bombardiers tried to find their aiming points, they discovered that the field had since been reconstructed. Choosing secondary aiming points, in every case but one, they scored two superiors and four excellents. The other bombardier, Lt P.G. McGivern, flying with Lt D.O. Turner, was able to identify his aiming point and scored excellent. Many hits were scored on revetments and airstrips.

This mission, #283, the last mission in April, was led by Lt Brown (Lts Brewer and Kerns, B&N) and Lt Buskirk (Lt Hanna and F/O Semtanka, B&N).


"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 258

Mission #283 - 26 April - Plattling Airfield, 40 miles southeast of Regensburg. This field hangared planes which were harrassing our ground troops. Fragmentation bombs peppered the landing runways and also the gun positions, silencing them while our formation flew over. Results of bombing showed two superiors and four excellents. Lts. Brown with Kerns and Brewer BNs led Box I with Lts. Buskirk and Hanna and F/O Smetanka BNs on Box II. Flight leaders were Lts. Heinke and Rosenquist BN and Lts. Warren and Forbes, BN.


"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Mission # 283 was the last mission flown by aircraft of this squadron for the month. The Plattling Airfield was the target for the attack. The flights led by Lts. Turner and Jordan again achieved superior results. With Lt. Turner, Lts. McGivern and Morley, led the Second Flight of the First Box, while Lt. Mulgrew flew with Lt. Jordan in the lead of the Third Flight of the First Box.


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

7 flights, maximum effort for the group, took off on 26 April 1945 to attack Plattling Airfield. 12 of our crews, led by Lt. Heinke, Lt. Rosenquist and Lt. Warren, Lt. Forbes, took part in this mission which was No. 283. Excellent to superior bombing was achieved by all flights from the group.

Bad weather (with ice in the air) prevented air activity on 27 April 1945. Aircraft ready time was 1325, but before any action could be taken the mission was scrubbed and the group had a release for the day.


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

April 26th, 1945

The airfield at Plattling, 40 miles southeast of Regensburg, was rendered unserviceable by the 416thsÆ bombing attack on April 26 1945. The field was used for tactical opposition to Allied Forces by single and twin-engine fighters. Lt. Brown, Lt. Kerns and Lt. Brewer led the first box and Lt. Buskirk and Lt. Hanna the second. Both scored excellent results. Three other flights also obtained excellent results, while two flights hit the target with superior ratings. Flak was not encountered.




[April 26, 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 26, 1945
World War II Military Situation Maps Collection
Library of Congress


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