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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 150 -- October 2, 1944, Monday AM Ubach Area "A", Germany Buildings
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 28 A-20G's, 8 A-20J's Target Ref : SPECIAL BOMBLINE RAILROAD RUNNING GENERALLY NORTH TO SOUTH IMMEDIATELY WEST OF TARGET Illustration   : AERIAL PHOTO. NO. 2026 UBACH AREA 10 SEP. 1944 Illustration Ref : 028059, 027064, 026069, 035060, 033064, 034072 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : 3 bombing runs, No attack due to cloud cover. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.91872,6.07527 (50° 55' 7" N, 6° 4' 31" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) vK832590) (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 # 150 -- October 2, 1944, Monday AM
Ubach Area "A", Germany -- Buildings
| 1 670th 43-22063 F6-A A-20J Maj Dunn, L.F. Lt Powell, V.H. S/Sgt Stobert, R.F. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
2 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
3 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. T/Sgt Goggin, J.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Paules, E.F. S/Sgt Martinez, L. |
5 670th 43-9720 F6-F A-20G Lt Musgrove, W. Sgt Seighman, H.O. Sgt Licker, M. |
6 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Popeney, H.V. Sgt Arnett, W.E. Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. Sgt Newell, S.P. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. |
2 668th 43-9444 5H-J A-20J Lt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
3 668th 43-21760 5H-Z A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. S/Sgt Shelton, E.L. |
| 4 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Love, C.F. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. |
5 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt Profita, P.J. Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
6 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. Sgt Cavanagh, A.F. |
| 1 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Capt Bartmus, G.F. Lt Hardy, J.F. S/Sgt Orr, J.R. S/Sgt Flacks, F.L. |
2 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. Sgt Heitell, S.L. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
3 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Meredith, R.G., Jr. S/Sgt Hill, A.A. S/Sgt MacDonald, R.W. |
| 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 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Svenson, R.R. S/Sgt Fild, P.G. S/Sgt Pfenning, G.H. |
6 668th 43-21809 5H-A A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
| SPARE 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Riley, R.K. Cpl Paladino, D.V. |
2 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt McBride, L.R. S/Sgt Eutsler, R.J. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. |
3 670th 43-10187 F6-H A-20G Lt Brown, N.G. S/Sgt Swafford, J.O., Jr. S/Sgt Glynn, P.F. |
| 4 670th 43-9750 F6-M A-20G Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Wilson, J.E. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
5 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Sparling, J.R., Jr. S/Sgt Leahigh, L.L. Sgt Harmon, C.D. |
6 670th 43-21810 F6-P A-20G Lt Barausky, P.P. Sgt Wilson, B.R. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
| 1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Capt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. |
2 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
3 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Land, W.H. Sgt Fair, V.F. Sgt Donnelly, W.W. |
| 4 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. Pvt Reid, K.A. |
5 669th 43-9943 2A-Z A-20G Lt Kehoe, J.W. Cpl Arendt, E.A. Pvt Richardson, L.L. |
6 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Butler, G.S. Cpl McClain, H.B. Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| 1 671st 43-9645 5C-R A-20J Capt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
2 671st 43-21711 5C-S A-20J Lt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
3 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
| 4 671st 43-10200 5C-F A-20G Lt Merchant, W.A. T/Sgt Tanner, J.R.L. S/Sgt Brown, K.P. |
5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. Sgt Brower, J.S. |
6 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. Cpl Steffey, R.I. |
| SPARE 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. Cpl Davis, W.G., Jr. [Returned Early as Briefed] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 150 -- October 2, 1944, Monday AM
Ubach Area "A", Germany -- Buildings
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Although only nine missions were flown during October, many Air Medals were received, and Purple Hearts. Orders were also received awarding Distinguished Flying Crosses to nine of our crewmen. They were Major Conant, Captain Jackson, Captain Osborne, Lieutenants Forma, Hand, Hill, Hillerman, Powell, and Rooney.
The first of the nine missions in October, mission #150, was flown on the 2nd. The war had progressed up to the gates of Germany itself. The Siegfried Line was all that stood between the Allies and the Reich. Our role during the month, therefore, would be to concentrate our air effort on the breakthrough and also on the cutting of supply lines to the Line. The target on the 2nd was in direct support of General Rodges' attack on the Line in the Aachen area. It was the town of Ubach. The town which contained nests of enemy strongpoints hidden among its homes was to be demolished. After three runs over the target, it became necessary to turn back. A cloud cover obscured the target. Major Dunn and Captain Rudisill were the box leaders. Bombing during the month was again done by flights.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 159
October-November, 1944
The transition training of pilots and Bombardier-Navigators for
the shiny aluminum A-26s continued, with all crews anxious to
get into them and fly missions. The lack of glass nosed, - Model
C - A-26s were not available yet, so as stated, A-20 glass nosed
planes would carry the BNs to missions, with the A-26 gun ships
behind them in flight formations. Speed was increased and the
tripled bomb load of the 26s over the A-20s made these planes
the desire of pilots and BNs. However, since the A-20 still had
not expanded their range of operation, the type of missions flown
had to co-incide with that lead plane's ability.
Mission #150 - 2 October - Urbach area, close to Aachen.
After three attempts on bomb runs to hit this target, all planes had
to return to base with their bombs still shackled up. Flight leaders
included Captain Cole and Lt. Basnett BN, Captain Bartmus
and Lt. Hardy BN, and Captain Osborne and Lt. Forma, BN.
This had to be an important target since four different Ninth
Bombardment Groups were assigned to destroy it, but it didn't
happen due to cloud cover. Air crews felt they were not doing
what they were capable of doing in helping ground forces
advance on German positions, all related to weather.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The first two missions of the month, of the 2nd and 3rd, were futile. Cloud cover prevented any attack.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The second of October saw our planes make three attempts to destroy enemy buildings and pill-boxes at Urbach, Germany, but due to the proximity of Allied Troops and poor visibility, no bombs were dropped.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
October 2nd, 1944
The 416 were dispatched on the morning of October 2nd to lend aid to the American First Army north of Aschen. The target was buildings in the Ubach area, but the Havocs had to return after making three runs on the target, all in vain as no holes appeared in the cloud covering. No battle damage resulted.
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[October 2, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, October 2, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |