416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 284 -- May 1, 1945, Tuesday PM Stod, Czechoslovakia Ammunition Plant
|
Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 37 A-26's Modified British System Reference: WP-864260 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Abandoned operations before reaching target area - lowering cloud bank prevented formation from proceeding to target. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.61034,13.09239 (49° 36' 37" N, 13° 5' 33" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wP864260) (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 # 284 -- May 1, 1945, Tuesday PM
Stod, Czechoslovakia -- Ammunition Plant
1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. Lt Myrold, H.E. S/Sgt Skeens, C.L. |
2 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
3 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
4 668th 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Laseter, W.H. S/Sgt Cross, R.M. [Returned Early Engine Cutting Out] |
5 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
6 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Zeimet, L.R. Sgt Ray, R.K. |
1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Sheehan, W.E., Jr. Lt Wilbur, M.F. S/Sgt Langley, T.R. |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. |
3 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. S/Sgt Richards, D.B. |
5 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. S/Sgt Vellinga, J.R. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. S/Sgt Kubjalko, A. |
1 670th 43-22677 F6-J A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. F/O Conley, F.J. |
2 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. S/Sgt Stroup, C.C., Jr. |
3 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Seighman, H.O. |
4 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Sgroi, A.P. |
5 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Ford, R. Sgt Murro, D.J. |
6 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Rhoney, C.B. |
SPARE 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. S/Sgt Collier, C.B. |
2 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Carver, J.H. S/Sgt Geyer, J.F. |
3 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. Sgt Harmon, F.B. |
4 671st 43-22499 5C-G A-26C Lt Russell, R.A. Lt Freed, D.R. Sgt Spence, J.I. |
5 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Miller, W.A. |
6 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
1 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Capt DuFault, W.F. F/O Cardinale, O.A. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. Capt Powell, V.H. |
2 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. S/Sgt Malloy, J.F. |
3 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. Sgt Gilbert, C. |
4 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Anderson, C.M. Lt Dant, N.B. S/Sgt Deatherage, J.H. |
5 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Francis, R.D. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Poundstone, L.E. Sgt Sumner, W.R., Jr. |
1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Buckley, W.C. |
3 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Doran, M.J. |
4 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Barry, R.M. |
5 671st 43-22419 5C-Z A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt Redding, R.D. |
6 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
SPARE 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 284 -- May 1, 1945, Tuesday PM
Stod, Czechoslovakia -- Ammunition Plant
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
How much longer would the war in Europe go on? When May Day arrived, we all knew that the end was near. Just how near was a question that only time would tell.
On the first day of the month, two boxes of aircraft took off to attack the Stod ammunition dump. Bad weather during the last few days of April made flying impossible. During the time, however, our ground forces had continued their drive forward and had joined with the Russians to cut Germany in half. Our forces had pushed into Munich and into the Bavarian Redoubt. When our planes reached enemy territory, bad weather built up. It was impossible to get in to the target. The formation crossed the bomb-line for about two minutes before it was forced to abandon the attack. There was no flak or enemy opposition. The box leaders were Capt Evans (Lts McCartney and Myrold, B&N) and Captain Stanley, F/O Blount, B/N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 258
Mission #284 - 1 May - Stod, Czechoslovakia Airdrome. Bad weather prevented bombing. When the formation crossed the bomb line they were forced to abandon the attack after flying just two minutes. No flak or enemy fighters were seen. Box leaders were Captain Evans with Lts McCartney and Myrold, BNs and Captain Stanley with F/O Blount BN. Captain Pair and Lt. Corum BN led a flight.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The fifth month of 1945 finds all of us "sweating" out the end of the war, but as usual each morning we attended a briefing, and to begin the month right, on May 1st instead of the usual "scrub", exceptionally favorable operational weather and conditions presented itself. Our target was located in AUSTRIA, STOD AMMO PLANT, one of the still remaining sources of ammunition for the German Army in that sector. Squadron "A" dispatched 9 ships to make up a total of 37 ships dispatched from Group. Due to adverse factors, Group did not attack the target.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
With the inevitable defeat of the German Military Machine resting on our door-step, two combat missions comprised the Squadron's monthly operational activities. On the first day of the month the Group sent two boxes of aircraft to attack the Stod Ammunition Dump. The formation continued on the mission for two minutes after crossing the bombline. At this time the mission had to be abandoned because of the bad weather that had developed east of our base. No flak was encountered and no enemy aircraft were seen. On this mission the 669th Bombardment Squadron had twelve crews and twelve aircraft participate in the formation.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The bad weather which had held up operations the last few days of April continued on 1 May. 37 aircraft took off on mission No. 284, but because of weather conditions were unable to bomb. The target was the Stod Ammunition Dump.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
May 1st, 1945
The 416th chalked up Mission No. 284 on May 1st, although weather prevented the bombers from attacking the target at Stod, Czechoslovakia. With the German Armies crumbling both in the East and West each mission may be the last one for the Group.
[May 1, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, May 1, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |