Loading List, Box I




Route Map




Primary Target area around MBS Coordinate (NGZ) wF661981
Extracted from GSGS-4416/AMS-M641 Sheet Q1 - "Essen" 1:100:000 Military Topographic Map
(Downloaded from Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - Army Map Service Topographic Map Series,
Central Europe, Series M641, 1:100,000, U.S. Army Map Service, 1943-,
Essen sheet)
(Note: This coordinate and map display represent the Primary Target Location, the Location actually attacked may differ)
(Annotated Full Map PDF)



Bomb Run Photo
(Lt. Robert S. Bower Combat Journal)

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 # 243 -- March 19, 1945, Monday PM
Schwelm, Germany -- Marshalling Yards

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

The 19th was an extremely active day for the Group. One box of 24 planes attacked the Lage railroad bridge with excellent results. Moderate, accurate flak at the bomb line in and out caused battle damage to nine planes. Major Ferris, Lts Royalty and Moore, B&N, led the box.

At the same time, 18 more planes attacked the Nassau road junctions. Again the results were excellent, with hits on the railroad, buildings, and roads. Lt. Rooney, Lt Kirk and F/O T.L. Goss, B&N, led the box.

A third box of 18 aircraft attacked the Schweim marshalling yards with a box of the 409th Bomb Group. Again attacking visibly by flights, the formation scored excellent results with all bombers scoring hits in the yards. Major Dunn, Lts Brewer and Muir, B&N, led the box.

"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 233

Mission #243 - 19 March - PM - Schweim Marshalling Yard. Major Dunn with Lt. Brewer BN. This box were directed to fly behind a 409th Bomb Group Box. The lead plane was hit, injuring the bombardier and the pilot, so they did not drop. Major Dunn's box dropped, but no results were determined.

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

The Lage Railroad Bridge was attacked on March 19th. Excellent results were obtained. Lt. Moore flew as bombardier with Major Ferris, of the 670th Bombardment Squadron (L).

On the second mission of the day, the Nassau Road Junction was attacked. The flight led by Lt. Blomgren and Lt. G.G. Johnson scored excellent results.

Another target was attacked on the same day. The Schwelm Marshalling Yards were bombed on this mission. Capt. Stebbins, with Lt. Calloway, achieved excellent results in bombing this target.

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

In the afternoon of the same day the Schweln Marshalling yards was attacked with excellent results. Weak inaccurate flak was encountered. Major Dunn led this mission, which was covered with a fighter escort of P-47's and P-38's.

Also on the 19th, F/O Green received notice of his promotion to Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States.

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

The 416th Group racked up three missions on March 19th, continuing the aerial offensive against key rail and communications centers in the Reich. Two formations of 21 and 24 ships went out in the morning, while one box was dispatched in the afternoon. All bombing was done visually in clear skies, and all crews returned safely.

In the morning one formation was dispatched to the communication center of Nassau, east of Coblenz. Two out of the three flights scored excellents on their bombing. Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns were one of these pairs. The bombs fell in a good pattern over buildings and roads.

The other formation went to the Lage Rail Bridge, 10 miles south of Hanover, and quite deep into Gernany. Four flights bombed the bridge and chalked up two excellent and two superiors. Lt. Lackovich and Lt. Muir, leading their first flight on a visual mission scored one of the superiors. The bombs hit into the smoke of a previous pattern and it was apparent that the road and bridge had been hit. Lt.Muir, setting an impressive pace on missions, dropped visually for the first time in 34 missions, and with this superior to his credit, it looks very much as if the 671st has another star lead team in Lt. Lackovich and Lt. Muir. Flak was encountered at this target, nine ships receiving battle damage, but all returned.

In the afternoon the 416th flew second box with the 409??!! in the lead. The target was the Barmen marshalling yard, 18 miles east of Dusseldorf. The lead ship of the first box (409th) was hit by flak on the bomb run, both the pilot and bombardier being wounded. This flight did not bomb, but the crew returned to base safely. The second and third flights did not hit the target. Major Dunn and Lt. Brewer, leading the second box, scored undetermined results due to violent evasive action coming of the target, but visual reports state that the bombing was excellent, hitting in the Marshalling Yard.

[March 19, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, March 19, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress

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