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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 159 -- November 17, 1944, Friday PM Hageunau, France Supply Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 159 -- November 17, 1944, Friday PM Hageunau, France Supply Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 34 Total -- 6 A-20K's, 28 A-26B's Modified British System Reference: R-032247 Secondary Target : Targets of Military Value Summary of Results : Flight results - two Unsatisfactory, one Fair, three Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.82245,7.78082 (48° 49' 21" N, 7° 46' 51" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wR032247) (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 # 159 -- November 17, 1944, Friday PM
Hageunau, France -- Supply Depot
| 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 668th 43-22317 5H-O A-26B Maj Ferris, C.H. S/Sgt Rio, D.J. |
3 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Heinke, W.R. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. [Not Airborne Rt. Eng] |
| 4 670th 41-39227 F6-F A-26B Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Teran, A. |
5 670th 43-22324 F6-O A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Belcas, J.O. |
6 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Candler, H.C.S. |
| 1 670th 44-073 F6-J A-20K Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. Lt Lindsay, G.E. [Lindsay (4th CCU)] |
2 670th 41-39217 F6-I A-26B Lt Leonard, T.J. S/Sgt Evans, O.D. |
3 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt McGlohn, C.L. S/Sgt McKee, J.C. |
| 4 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Rooney, R.J. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. |
5 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Sampson, D.A. |
6 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Murphy, T.A. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
| 1 669th 43-22024 2A-E A-20J Capt Hulse, D.A., Jr. Lt Conte, R.F., Sr. S/Sgt Allred, F.D. S/Sgt Stephens, D.W. |
2 669th 43-22300 2A-P A-26B Capt Peck, W.A. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. |
3 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. |
| 4 669th 41-39242 2A-Q A-26B Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Bookach, M. |
5 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Kehoe, J.W. S/Sgt Carstens, R.W. |
6 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Heath, K. [Not Airborne Spark Plugs] |
| SPARE 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Ostrander, W.B. S/Sgt Binney, I. |
| 1 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. |
2 669th 43-22301 2A-O A-26B Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. Lt Britt, J.W. |
3 669th 41-39205 2A-W A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. S/Sgt Triber, H.I. |
| 4 669th 41-39240 2A-K A-26B Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. |
5 669th 41-39232 2A-A A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
6 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
| 1 671st 44-560 5C-X A-20K Capt Cole, H.P. Lt Basnett, R.J. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. S/Sgt Fandre, B.G. |
2 671st 41-39211 5C-K A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. [Not Airborne Spark Plugs] |
3 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Lt Buskirk, J.A. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. |
| 4 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
5 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Eastman, D.M. Sgt Eaton, A.B. [Not Airborne Electrical Trouble] |
6 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt VanNoorden, H.M. Sgt Steffey, R.I. |
| 1 671st 44-089 5C-R A-20K Capt Wheeler, R.V. Lt Arrington, H.T. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
2 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
3 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
| 4 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
5 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. Cpl Davis, H.R. |
6 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. Sgt Rojas, A.A. |
| SPARE 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Col Meng, W.J. Sgt Elliott, F.W. Capt Fontaine, R.A., Jr. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 159 -- November 17, 1944, Friday PM
Hageunau, France -- Supply Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The month of November found us flying the fewest number of missions since we had begun operations. We flew only five missions in the month. Bad weather was entirely to blame for this. It was felt at first that the A-26 would not be able to fly behind a B-26 Marauder on a Pathfinder mission because of the differences in speed. As a result, the weather had to be clear enough for visual bombing in order for us to fly.
The first mission for the month, No. 159, took off on the 17th, exactly one month since our last mission in October. It was the first mission flown by a Group completely equipped with the Invaders in any combat theatre. The 416th introduced the plane famously by scoring four excellents on the supply dump at Haguenau, Germany. Extensive damage was inflicted when the bombs struck the buildings, warehouses, the railroad, and bridges in the target area. For the first time, also, 250 pound demolition bombs were carried. The A-26s were equipped to carry eight; the A-20s, four. The Havocs were used as lead planes in each of the flights. Major Dunn, Lt Powell, B-N, and Captain Huff, Lt Kupits, B-N, were the box leaders.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 168
Mission #159 - 17 November - Haguenau Supply Depot. The first mission with 28 A-26 gun ships, led in flights of six by A-20s. Captain Huff and Lt. Kupits, BN and Captain Hulse and Lt. Conte, BN led boxes. Captain Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, BN and Captain Cole and Lt. Basnett, BN led flights. Kupits and Conte scored excellents on their bombing. Others scored fair and two as unsatisfactory Weather was closing in and the formation went down to 8000 feet to make their bomb run. The newness of the A-26 planes for the pilots resulted in other than a tight formation, they not being accustomed to the vision from the wider cockpit, causing apprehension on getting too close to their formation partners. Practice will make things better as time goes on.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 17 November, the Squadron participated in the first combat mission flown by the A-26. Due to a shortage of glass-nosed Invaders, A-20 Havocs were used in the Number One position for all flights.
The early combat missions uncovered several "bugs" in the Invader, and the technical sections, together with the Douglas Field Representatives, wrestled with the accomplishment of minor mechanical improvements. For air and ground men alike it was pioneer work, and though fraught with difficulties and hazards, it had its compensations in the sense of real achievement that was felt by the entire Group.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Only five missions were flown during the month of November. Exactly one month after the last mission in October, the Group took off on the 17th to fly their first mission in the A-26 Invaders. The target was the supply dump at Hagenau, Germany. Captain Huff, Lt. Kupits, B-N, was chosen to lead the second box on this all-important mission for the new planes. Captain Hulse, Lt. Conte, B-N, led a flight in the first box. Both of the 669th Bombardiers scored "excellents". Extensive damage was inflicted on buildings warehouses, the railroad, and bridges.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The christening of the new A-26's in combat, and the first mission for the squadron since October 8th, took place on November 17th. Eleven of our crews took part in an attack on the Haguenau storage depot. Forced to go below a cloud cover on the bomb run, the crews bombed from 8,000 feet. The attack was centered on two large warehouses, fifteen miles north of Strasbourg. Only weak flak was encountered and excellent bombing results were obtained. Bombs demolished bridges, railroad and warehouses in the target area.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
You Heard Right...The 416th Runs A Mission!!!
Just one month after the 416th had run its last mission, the new A-26 Invaders zoomed into the blue on their first operational mission. It was on October 17th that the 416th Bomb Group ran its last Group of operations for a while, but poor weather curtailed flights since the first of November. Then on November 17th, 1944 Bomb Division called on the 416th to hit a stores depot at Haguenau in conjunction with a grand Allied offensive.
Taking off in light rain, the formation met worse weather at the target, located 15 miles north of Strasbourg. Dropping down to 8,000 feet the bombardiers were able to pick up the depot and hit it with damaging results. Captain Cole and Lt. Basnett who were leading the middle flight in the second box, dropped their bombs within a 1,000 foot radius of the DMPI, hitting several buildings along the railroad. Captain Wheeler and Lt.Arrington did not make out as well. Due to rain and fog Lt.Arrington could not pick up the target until very late in the bomb run, giving him insufficient time for synchronization. Strikes were made, however, on numerous buildings. Captain Cole annexed an excellent as did two other flights.
Weak inaccurate flak was experienced, and battle damage was nil. Of the six Groups dispatched by Bomb Division the 416th was the only one to bomb. The A-26s carried a bomb load of eight 250 GPs, while the A-20Ks leading the flights carried four 250s.
"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Toward the middle of November the weather cleared somewhat and the need for air support became urgent. On November 17 the Group flew their first mission using A-26 airplanes with A-20K airplanes leading each flight. The target was a supply warehouse at Haguenau, France. Ten crews of the 671st Squadron participated in the mission with Captain Cole and Captain Wheeler leading two flights.
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[November 17, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, November 17, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |