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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 142 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday AM St. Wendel, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 142 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday AM St. Wendel, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 30 A-20G's, 6 A-20J's Modified British System Reference: between Q-585960 and Q-587968 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Four flights did not attack due to 10/10 cloud cover, one flight results Unknown, one Gross. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.46259,7.16426 (49° 27' 45" N, 7° 9' 51" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wQ585960) (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 # 142 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday AM
St. Wendel, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 670th 43-9452 F6-Q A-20J Capt Jackson, C.R. Lt Maltby, A.H. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. S/Sgt Daniel, W.J., Sr. |
2 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Shaefer, R.F. Sgt Elliott, F.W. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. Sgt Nowosielski, H.J., Jr. Sgt Dias, M.E. |
| 4 670th 43-9720 F6-F A-20G Lt Hall, R.B. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Hall, M. Sgt Wilson, B.R. |
6 670th 43-10211 F6-O A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Leahigh, L.L. |
| 1 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Capt McNulty, G.M. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt Fejes, J.A., Jr. S/Sgt Judd, E.R., Jr. |
2 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. S/Sgt Hedrick, H.R. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L. |
3 668th 43-9894 5H-R A-20G Lt Hale, W.L. Sgt Geyer, J.F. Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
| 4 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Dickenson, E.S. S/Sgt Hornbeck, K.E., Jr. |
5 668th 43-21760 5H-Z A-20G Lt Stanley, C.S. Sgt Holterfield, C.C. Sgt Collier, C.B. |
6 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt Profita, P.J. Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. T/Sgt Robbins, L.G. S/Sgt Naifeh, F. |
2 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. Sgt Gandy, R.S. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. |
3 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
| 4 668th 43-21819 5H-K A-20G Lt Peede, L.G. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Daugherty, L.M. |
5 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt Evans, H.M. Sgt Skeens, C.L. Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. |
6 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Saidla, J.B. Sgt Cavanagh, A.F. Sgt Harris, J.M. |
| SPARE 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. S/Sgt Bonamo, A.J. |
2 670th 43-9905 F6-K A-20G Lt Murphy, T.A. Sgt Ricketson, J.J. Sgt O'Connell, L.W. |
3 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Capt Gruetzemacher, R.O. Sgt Majewski, S.J. S/Sgt Teran, A. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. S/Sgt Driskill, P.B. |
5 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Merritt, T.S. Sgt Basile, A.C. S/Sgt Gatti, R.J. |
6 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G F/O Turner, E.O. Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. Sgt Belcas, J.O. |
| 1 671st 43-21724 5C-A A-20J Lt Adams, J.D. Lt Hanlon, R.J. Sgt Henson, A.E. Sgt Herr, R.E. |
2 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
3 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Lackovich, J.J. Sgt Connery, T.F. Sgt Barry, R.M. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
5 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Fero, D.A. Cpl Skelton, T.W. Cpl Rojas, A.A. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Miguez, J.H. Cpl DiOrio, F.M. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Lt Greene, W.J. Lt Nichols, J.R. S/Sgt Ochaba, J.A. S/Sgt Colbert, W.F. |
2 669th 43-21961 2A-P A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. |
3 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. Sgt Donnelly, W.W. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Hall, E.P. Sgt Carstens, R.W. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
5 669th 43-9900 2A-Q A-20G Lt Miller, E.L. Cpl Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
6 669th 43-21821 2A-Z A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Cpl Steffey, R.I. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. [Returned Early as Briefed No Sortie] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 142 -- September 12, 1944, Tuesday AM
St. Wendel, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Finally the big day arrived. When the Field Order was received on the 12th, it had the 416th scheduled to bomb the marshalling yards at St Wendel in Germany itself. It was not only the first time that we had attacked Germany, but it was the first time that any Ninth Air Force bombers attacked Germany. Bad weather marred the debut and only two flights bombed. One flight's bombing was unobserved. The other flight, through the haze and clouds, misidentified the target and bombed the marshalling yard at Ottweiler, four miles south of the target. Captain Jackson, Lt Maltby, B-N, led the first box of Ninth Air Force bombers across the German border. Captain Rudisill, Lt Joost, B-N, led the second box.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 144
Mission #142 - 12 September - AM - St. Wendel Marshalling Yard. For the first time, our group would be bombing in Germany, in front of the Siegfried line, 25 miles inside Germany. This gave the crews some internal excitement. Rather unexpectedly, no flak or fighters bothered the formation. The only thing detrimental to the success of the mission was weather closing in. Of six flights, only two were able to see and drop their bombs. Lt. Greene and Lt. Nichols, BN hit nearby marshalling yards. After making two bomb runs, Lts. Adams and Hanlon, BN could not drop due to cloud cover. All planes returned to base at 1200.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 12 September the Squadron participated in the first A-20 mission ever to bomb Germany. The target was a marshalling yard at Wendel, ten miles northeast of Saarbrucken, and results were reported good.
The same day, Lt. Loring G. Peede became the first pilot of the Group to complete 65 sorties, and was recommended for return to Zone of the Interior.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The first time we or any Ninth Air Force bombers ever attacked targets in Germany was on the 12th when the 416th hit St. Wendel in Germany. Weather was very bad. Lt. Greene, Lt. Nichols, B-N, managed to drop, hitting a marshalling yard at Ottweiler, just south of the target.
That afternoon, Capt. Morton and Capt Peck were flight leaders on the most nearly perfect mission flown by the Group. All six flights scored "excellent". The target was an artillery position at Chaligny in the Foret de Haye. A statement from a G.L.O. news summary read, "Ground units report the bombing of the 9th Bombardment Division on the Foret de Haye on 12 September was so effective the Germans in the area marched out with their hands in the air ans [and] surrendered. American ground troops had to fire practically no shots to effect the surrender."
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were flown on September 12th, the morning mission being an attack against artillery emplacements and observation posts in the Foret De Haye. Six excellent ratings were given our Group, the only excellent ratings given of the four groups of bombers attacking the target. Eleven of our crews took part in this raid. Six more crews participated in an afternoon attack on the St Wendel Marshalling Yards.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
September 12th, 1944
Morning Mission
The 416th joined in the battle of the Sigfried Line when it combined with other Ninth Bomber Command Groups to blast a Nazi Marshalling Yard and fortifications inside Germany itself. This was the first time that Ninth Air Force Bombers had made their appearance over the "Fatherland".
Flying over roads choked with allied military traffic streaming toward the German border, the 416th went in unopposed to deliver their initial blow against the Reich. The target was the Marshalling Yard at St. Wendel, some 25 miles inside Germany at a point 17 miles north of Saarbrucken. Haze and ground fog prevented all the flights from releasing their bombs, but two flights picked up the target and hit it with damaging results. Lt. Adams and Lt. Hanlon lead the second flight in the second box, but their target was obscured, although two runs were made. The ships took off at 0800 and were back over the field by 1200.
"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
When Brest was captured targets in France were very limited. The Third Army which had raced through France was now meeting stiffer resistance and was soon calling for air support in the Metz-Nancy Sector. This was also at extreme range but several targets were attacked by the Group in that area. One of these missions, the attack of Foret De Haye near Nancy, proved to be the best job of bombing done by the Group. Eleven crews of the 671st Bomb Squadron (L) participated in this flight with Major Willetts leading the first box and Captain Wheeler leading the second box, his first mission as a box leader. When the mission was complete and the photos developed it was found that all six flights had scored excellent hits on the target causing terrific explosions with smoke coming almost as high as the formation. The complete success of the mission as more surprising when Captain Wheeler and Lieutenant Arrington revealed that they had flown the entire route and dropped their bombs without interphone communications. The same day, 12 September, the Group with six crews from the 671st Squadron attacked the first target in Germany assigned to any IX Bomber Command unit when they bombed the Marshalling Yards at St. Wendell.
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[September 12, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, September 12, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |