Loading List 1, Box I




Loading List 2, Box II




Route Map




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wF425244
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet S1 - "Bonn" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Map Archive of Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny 1919 - 1939,
GSGS 4416 / AMS M641, 651, 671 Germany, Poland, Middle Danube 1:100,000,
Bonn sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)

Included are Box, Flight and Position; Bomb Squadron; Aircraft Serial Number, Fuselage Code and Model; and Crew Members
transcribed from individual mission Loading List documents by Chris and Mary Adams and Carl Sgamboti.
Some information, such as Squadron, Serial Number, etc. has been expanded from other documents.

Group and Unit Histories

Mission # 205 -- February 14, 1945, Wednesday PM
Rheinbach, Germany -- Ammunition Dump

"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives

That afternoon, an ammunition dump in the woods near Rheinbach was attacked with excellent to superior results. Bright flashes in the target area indicate that some ammunition was hit. When it was decided to bomb by boxes, one flight did not receive the message. Because of the haze, it attacked the town of Ludendorf as a casual target. Moderate accurate flak was fired at the formation on the target and on the turn-off, but all planes returned safely. Major Price, Lts Forma and Babbage as B and N, and Capt Evans, Lt McCartney and F/O Harvest as B and N, led the two boxes.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 208

Mission #205 - 14 February - PM - Rheinbach Ammunition Dump. Major Price, Lt. Forma and Lt. Babbage as BN team, with Captain Evans Lt. McCartney and F/O Harvest as BN in Box II. Flights were headed up by Lts. Buskirk and Hanna, BN plus Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN. Bombing was through a thick cloud layer. A pathfinder plane was scheduled to lead the formation, but he could not contact his base station, the bombing was then done visually, with excellent results. The bright flashes, explosion and smoke spoke well of the aiming. One flight leader did not receive the message that they were to go in as box bombing. They went off and bombed the town of Ludendorf. Moderate flak came up, but no serious damage was experienced, although 20 planes of the group were hit. The planes landed at base after dusk.

"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

On the morning of 14 February, heavy enemy ground fire was encountered over Machernich. Lieutenant John J. Chalmers and his crew were reported Missing in Action (see Item 4 above).

The afternoon of the same day, the new team of Major Price and Lt., Forma scored a "Superior" in an attack on Rheinbach Ammunitions Depot. Lt., Hand, Major Price's regular bombardier, was grounded due to a non-battle casualty (broken ankle).

"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

No further missions were flown until the fourteenth of the month. During this period, the air echelon of the squadron moved from AAF Station A-55 to AAF Sta. A-69. The air echelon's part of the move was accomplished on the 12th of the month. Inclement weather prevented the aircraft from departing Sta. A-55 on February 11th as planned. Plans had been thoroughly and completely made. The entire movement proceeded with clocklike precision. Although the air echelon had only arrived on the twelfth of the month at the new station, the morning of the fourteenth saw aircraft of this squadron participating in an attack on the Mechernich Repair Depot. PPF technique was used. Reconnaissance photographs showed that excellent results had been obtained.

On the afternoon of the same day, the Rheinbach Ammunition Dump was bombed by aircraft of this squadron.

"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives

Two missions were flown of the 14th. In the morning the Mechernich Prime Mover Depot was bombed. Eight of our crews were on the mission. They ran into intense heavy accurate flak after they left the target which continued until they reached the bombline. One of the ships in the formation was hit and went down in flames. Photo reconnaisance later showed that rail lines, buildings and cars were severely damaged and burned out.

In the afternoon, eleven of our crews took part in the bombing of the Rheinbach ammunition dump. Excellent results were scored. Moderate heavy accurate flak was encountered at the target and on the turn off. Bright flashes observed by the crews indicated that their mission had been accomplished.

"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns

February 14th, 1945

The Ninth Bomb Division had its biggest day since Christmas 1944 on February 14th, 1945 and the 416th Group was in the midst of it, running missions against heavily defended targets. In the morning Col. Willetts and Capt. Pair led the Group against the Prime Mover Depot at Mechornich. The ColonelĘs box bombed on PFF and bursts were seen through the clouds near to the DMPI. A mechanical failure on Captain PairĘs ship prevented him from bombing, but many of the ships in his box dropped on different targets in enemy territory.

The deputy box leader took over the lead from Captain Pair when his ship failed to bomb, and he overshot the target area. The deputy ran into flak from several hot targets and the planes were badly shot up. Lt.Chalmers, his bombardier and gunner went down in this barrage which lasted fifteen minutes. The leader finally got clear. Eleven ships were battle-damaged.

The Skelton crew, which worked relentlessly to get the planes ready for the morning mission, were put to test again when the Group was alerted for another mission that afternoon. The ground and aircrews who had loaded the planes that morning with 500 pounders had the arduous task of throwing 250 pounders into the bomb bays for the second mission.

The planes were dispatched against the ammunition reserves at Rheinbach, 10 miles southwest of Bonn. A Pathfinder was once again sent, but it was unable to contact its station and the bombing was changed to visual. The first two flights chalked up superior results with the center of bursts 215 feet from the DMPI.

The third flight in the first box hit a town near the primary, after failing to drop on the first run. The second box bombed in one pattern, with the bombs hitting on the edge of the target area. Explosions indicated that ammunition was hit.

Flak was intense accurate over the target. Twenty planes received battle damage, but all returned.

[February 14, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, February 14, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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