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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 160 -- November 18, 1944, Saturday AM Breisach, Germany Railroad Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 160 -- November 18, 1944, Saturday AM Breisach, Germany Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 6 A-20K's, 31 A-26B's Tactical Target Dossier: 4807E/B/1 Illustration : 4807E/1/1 Illustration Ref : 037019 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Four flights scored Excellent, one Undertermined, one No Attack - Leader failed to release. One flight attacked Gebweiler (casual target). Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.01909,7.57582 (48° 1' 9" N, 7° 34' 33" 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 # 160 -- November 18, 1944, Saturday AM
Breisach, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
| 1 671st 44-560 5C-X A-20K Lt Col Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. S/Sgt Lempka, H.A. S/Sgt DeGiusti, I.R. |
2 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Miguez, J.H. Brig Gen Backus, E.N. |
3 671st 41-39210 5C-J A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
| 4 671st 41-39211 5C-K A-26B Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt DiMartino, A.E. |
5 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Eastman, D.M. Sgt Eaton, A.B. |
6 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
| 1 669th 44-085 2A-T A-20K Capt Peck, W.A. Lt Madenfort, J. Sgt West, N.D. Pfc Stindt, G.S. [Stindt (4th CCU)] |
2 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
3 669th 43-22300 2A-P A-26B Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
| 4 669th 43-22301 2A-O A-26B Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
5 669th 41-39205 2A-W A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. Sgt Triber, H.I. |
| 1 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Lt Greene, W.J. Lt Nichols, J.R. Sgt Moskowitz, L. Cpl Brinkman, E.R. |
2 669th 41-39232 2A-A A-26B Lt Butler, G.S. Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
3 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt DeMun, E.E. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. S/Sgt Bookach, M. |
5 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Kehoe, J.W. Lt Britt, J.W. Sgt Fair, V.F. |
6 669th 41-39242 2A-Q A-26B Lt Smith, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Hoffman, R.C. |
| SPARE 669th 43-22306 2A-N A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. Capt Fontaine, R.A., Jr. [No Sortie Returned Early] |
| 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 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Francis, E.C. Sgt Connery, T.F. |
3 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Chvatal, F.R. |
| 4 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. |
5 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
6 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
| 1 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Capt Osborne, A.E., Jr. Lt Forma, W. S/Sgt Lagerman, K.G. S/Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
2 668th 41-39216 5H-Q A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Raines, D.E. |
3 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Chalmers, J.J. Sgt Fortner, K. |
| 4 668th 43-22317 5H-O A-26B Lt Evans, H.M. Lt Morris, B.C. Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt Profita, P.J. |
6 668th 41-39269 5H-K A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
| 1 670th 44-073 F6-J A-20K Capt Rudisill, R.S. Lt Joost, R.H. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. S/Sgt Caudell, S.R. |
2 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Johnson, E.L. S/Sgt Donahue, W.J. |
3 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Heinke, W.R. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. |
| 4 670th 41-39227 F6-F A-26B Lt Hillerman, J.P. S/Sgt Glynn, F.P. |
5 670th 41-39217 F6-I A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
6 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Licker, M. Pfc Nelson, P.J. [Nelson (4th CCU)] |
| SPARE 668th 41-39218 5H-C A-26B Capt Shaefer, R.F. Sgt Elliott, F.W. Col Aylesworth, T.R. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 160 -- November 18, 1944, Saturday AM
Breisach, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
A day later, on the 18th, the railroad bridge at Breisach, Germany, was attacked. Major Willett's Bombardier, Lt Royalty, leading the first box, dropped his bombs squarely on the bridge. Photo reconnaissance showed, however, that we were cheated again as the bombs had straddled the bridge, which was still standing. The formation encountered moderate flak at the target. Despite this, one flight, led by Captain Peck, Lt Madenfort, B-N, made three runs on the target. The bombsight mechanism would not release the bombs on any of the three runs. They returned to the I.P. and decided to make a run on it. This time the sight released the bombs which scored excellent results. It was through this very town of Gebweiler that the Sixth Army Group moved when it began its attack two days later. Although the bridge was not destroyed, the approaches at the northeast end were so badly damaged that the line was probably made unserviceable. Captain Wheeler, Lt Arrington, B-N, led the second box of the formation. One thousand-pound bombs were carried by the Invaders.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 168
Mission #160 - 18 November - Breisach Railroad Bridge. Lt. Col. Willetts and Lt. Royalty BN led Box I with Captain Wheeler and Lt. Arrington, BN on Box II. Captain Peck and Lt. Madenfort, BN, Captain Osborne and Lt. Forma, BN and Lts. Lackovich and Francis, BN led flights. Results were excellent for the two box leaders as well as for two of the other flight leaders. No enemy fighters or flak were encountered.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The following day, the 18th, Lt. Greene, Lt. Nichols, B-N, led a flight in an attack on the Breisach railroad bridge. Although their bombs did not destroy the bridge, they damaged the approach so badly that the line was now unserviceable. Captain Peck, Lt. Madenfort, B-N, had trouble with the bombsight releasing the bombs on three attempts over the target. They finally decided to make a run on the town of Gebweiler. The bombs were released this time with excellent results. It was through this town that the 6th Army Group made its advance a couple of days later.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Thirty-seven ships comprised the Group's 160th mission on November 18th, in an attack against the town of Durwiss. The squadron was represented by six crews . The town was only recently actually converted into a fortress by the enemy, and our ground forces requested its neutralization as an aid in the advance toward Cologne. Returning crews reported that fires started by strafing fighter bombers merged with the explosion of their bombs.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
November 18th, 1944
The 671st Bomb Squadron led the show as the 416t Bomb Group went to the Rhine River to knock out a bridge in conjunction with the Seventh Army's drive east into Germany. Colonel Willetts and Lt.Royalty took the formation to the target area, leading the first box, while Capt Wheeler and Lt. Arrington led the second box. The bridge, a railroad span over the Rhine at Breisach, was being used to bring supplies to the hard-pressed German army trying to hold off the American 7th Army. Both Col. Willetts's and Capt. Wheeler's flights received excellent on their bombing. Lt. Royalty released his bombs so that they all fell within a thousand-foot radius of the DMPI. Strikes were made on the Northeast part of the span with damaging results. The Wheeler/Arrington team put 75% of their bombs within the 1000-foot radius, hitting across the road, the banks of the canal and several buildings. Two other flights received excellent, while the remaining two had a undetermined and a no-attack. All ships and crews returned in tact.
"671tst Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On November 18 Lt Col. Willetts, promoted from Major on 15 October 1944, and Captain Wheeler led the two boxes of the formation attacking a bridge at Breisach, on the French-German border. Both of their flights bombed with excellent results.
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[November 18, 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 18, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |