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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 151 -- October 3, 1944, Tuesday AM Duren, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 151 -- October 3, 1944, Tuesday AM Duren, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 36 Total -- 27 A-20G's, 9 A-20J's Target Ref : DUREN (MARSHALLING YARDS) Illustration : 6(D)(V) 5/6 Illustration Ref : 058080, 06070830, 063085, 07550995, 079104, 08251090 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : No Attack - 10/10 cloud cover in two layers. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.82879,6.50447 (50° 49' 44" N, 6° 30' 16" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on Google Maps, Visual match to Strike Photo) (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 # 151 -- October 3, 1944, Tuesday AM
Duren, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 671st 43-22065 5C-E A-20J Maj Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. S/Sgt Brower, J.S. |
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 43-9841 5C-O A-20G Lt Ames, W.H. Sgt Fessler, H.S. Sgt Brown, R.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Sherry, V.N. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
5 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. Cpl Steffey, R.I. |
6 671st 43-9363 5C-L A-20G Lt Winn, A.J.P. Cpl Davis, W.G., Jr. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
| 1 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. S/Sgt Bergeron, A.E. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. |
2 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. Sgt Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Hayter, E.R. Sgt Donnelly, W.W. S/Sgt Holloway, R.G. |
| 4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. T/Sgt Kelly, W.J. |
5 669th 43-9181 2A-A A-20G Lt Sorrels, D.W. Cpl Triber, H.I. Cpl Malara, V.A. |
6 669th 43-9943 2A-Z A-20G Lt Kehoe, J.W. Cpl Arendt, E.A. Pvt Richardson, L.L. |
| 1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Lt DeMun, E.E. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Rosenstein, M. S/Sgt Carney, H.O. |
2 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Robertson, R.B. S/Sgt Cheney, M.W. Sgt Reiter, G.E. |
3 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Clark, H.B. S/Sgt Sabadosh, J.W. S/Sgt Floyd, C.F. [Not Airborne] |
| 4 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Vafiadis, C. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
5 669th 43-9963 2A-L A-20G Lt Butler, G.S. Cpl McClain, H.B. Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
6 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. Pvt Reid, K.A. |
| SPARE 670th 43-21810 F6-P A-20G Lt Leishman, S.P. Cpl Shempren, E.H. Cpl Siracusa, J.F. |
| 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 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Best, H.T. S/Sgt Werley, E.R. |
3 671st 43-9937 5C-B A-20G Lt Zubon, M. S/Sgt Russell, W.C. S/Sgt Zeikus, A.J. |
| 4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
5 671st 43-9951 5C-P A-20G Lt Murray, T.J., Jr. S/Sgt DeBower, D.H. S/Sgt Jones, R.J. |
6 671st 43-9956 5C-Z A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Garrett, A.D. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Lt Meagher, J.F. Lt Burg, J.J. Sgt Roberts, J.H. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. |
2 668th 43-10125 5H-M A-20J Lt Miracle, R.V. F/O McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Sieg, B.C. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. |
3 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Lesher, R.D. Sgt Heitell, S.L. S/Sgt Damico, E.A. |
| 4 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Ebenstein, G.N. S/Sgt Adair, F.L. S/Sgt Love, C.F. |
5 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
6 668th 43-9195 5H-D A-20G Lt Saidla, J.B. Sgt Harris, J.M. Sgt Cavanagh, A.F. |
| 1 670th 43-21467 F6-W A-20J Lt Shea, D.F. Lt Koch, O.R. S/Sgt Lee, R.E., Jr. S/Sgt Falk, F.G. |
2 670th 43-9689 F6-I A-20G Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. |
3 670th 43-9217 F6-D A-20G Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. S/Sgt Palmer, T.A. |
| 4 670th 43-9224 F6-E A-20G Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt Moran, J.W. Cpl Urbanicio, F.R. |
5 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
6 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Sheley, S.H. Cpl Paladino, D.V. Sgt Tharp, F.M. |
| SPARE 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. Sgt Hantske, D. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 151 -- October 3, 1944, Tuesday AM
Duren, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The following day, the 3rd, our planes took off again, this time led by Major Willetts and Captain Cole. The target, the Duren marshalling yards, was covered by 10/10 clouds. Major Willetts, hoping to find some bombing weather, sent Lt Pair to break away from the formation and drop down to check the weather at a lower altitude. It was to no avail, though, because a second lower layer covered the target completely.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 159 - 161
Mission #151 - 3 October - Duren Marshalling Yard. Major
Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led this formation with Captain Cole
and Lt. Basnett BN on the second box. Lt. Pair and Lt. Corum
BN, flew as deputy. Flight leaders included Lts. Meagher and
Burg, BN, and Lt. Miracle and F/O McCartney, a new BN. It was
a three hour flight with no interference from fighters or flak, but
again, no bombs were dropped due to cloud cover. When is the
sun going to shine again so we can help those foot sloggers in
rain and mud, do their jobs better? Lt. Pair, who flew deputy to
Major Willetts, left the formation and went down to 6000 feet to
determine if the cloud cover would lighten up, but since it didn't
he again joined the formation and they all returned to base,
loaded with bombs once more.
On 3 October the Associated Press reported
NINTH AIR FORCE ALL ON CONTINENT.
All planes of the American Ninth Air Force
largest tactical Air Force in the World, are operating
now from bases on the Continent, it was disclosed
today.
Marauder, medium bombers, some of the last to
be shifted from England, are included in the Ninth
Air Force, along with Havoc dive bombers, fighter
bombers, Black Widow night fighters, and Mustang,
Lightning and Thunderbolt fighters.
Flying their first operation from the continent
fields exclusively, Marauders and Havocs joined
fighter bombers yesterday in attacking German
strong points ahead of the new push by the
American First Army.
The tremendous job of moving was accomplished
with a minimum loss of operational time.
Most of the ground personnel and all heavy equipment
crossed the channel in LSTS. Skeleton crews
remained behind to help with the last missions from
English bases.
Airstrips constructed early in the invasion now
are far behind the front. Most bombers and fighters
are operating from French airfields captured from
the Germans, although facilities are limited by
bombings which some of the present airmen administered.
Ninth Bomber Divison Headquarters issued a statement
that in the September offensive, Marauders and Havocs had
flown over 1300 sorties over Germany, bombing in close support
of Allied Ground Forces. September 12th was the first time
medium and light bombers flew against the heavily defended
Siegfried Line defenses. It was the first time these bombers
crossed the German border's aerial frontier and dropped bombs
on German soil. Enemy damage to the enemy's tank traps resulted.
The Ninth Bombardment Divison attacked the heavily
defended and difficult to capture, Brest, taking eight straight
days of bombardment by B-26s and A-20s to permit Allied
forces to take this strong point. The post surrendered the later
part of the month of September. General Eisenhower had issued
orders to "keep bombing until its garrison surrenders." We did
our part!
Mission (none) 5 October - Duren Marshalling Yard. The formation
took off and flew for about an hour, but were recalled due
to the usual inclement weather. No bombing today.
"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 next day a mission was sent to attack the Duren marshalling yards, but again bad weather prevented the dropping of the bomb load.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
October 3rd, 1944
Weather conditions in the battle area didn't improve overnight, but the A-20s took off again in quest of an Aachen area target. This time it was the marshalling yard at Duren, 15 miles east of Aachen. Major Willetts and Captain Cole led the boxes up through a heavy overcast, which prevailed up to, and past the target. Lt.Pair, flying deputy to Major Willetts, left the formation and went down to 6,000 feet, but he did not break out of the overcast, so the planes had to return the second day in a row without dropping their bombs.
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[October 3, 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 3, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |