416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 258 -- March 31, 1945, Saturday AM Wurzburg, Germany Storage Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 40 Total -- 38 A-26's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Modified British System Reference: N-539371 Secondary Target : Ebenhausen Oil Storage Depot Summary of Results : Unobserved. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.81413,9.87753 (49° 48' 51" N, 9° 52' 39" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wN539371) (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 # 258 -- March 31, 1945, Saturday AM
Wurzburg, Germany -- Storage Depot
1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. F/O Wrubelle, W.M. S/Sgt Malloy, J.F. |
2 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Clark, R.A. |
4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Pikel, J.M. |
1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. S/Sgt Collier, C.B. |
2 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Hood, A.R. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. S/Sgt Singleton, L.E. |
4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
5 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. Sgt Kaminski, C.J. |
6 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Zeimet, L.R. Sgt Ray, R.K. |
1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
2 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. [No sortie] |
3 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Musarra, A.J. |
4 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
5 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. Sgt Spence, J.I. |
6 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
SPARE 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. Cpl Brennan, J.D. |
1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt McClain, H.B. |
2 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
3 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. Sgt Sumner, W.R., Jr. |
4 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Capt Sommers, H.L. S/Sgt Heath, K. |
5 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Richards, D.A. |
6 669th 43-22496 2A-L A-26C Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
2 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Lt Fero, D.A. F/O Langsam, R.L. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
3 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
5 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. |
6 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Wright, J.R. S/Sgt Simon, D.O. |
1 670th 41-39398 F6-Q A-26B Lt Grunig, D.B. Lt Morris, B.C. S/Sgt Friday, L.R. |
2 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. Capt Chidley, H.W. [Chidley (Weather)] |
3 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. Sgt Willever, E.J. |
4 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Rorbakken, R.R. S/Sgt Richards, D.B. |
5 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. Cpl Eddy, K.A. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mulzet, O.F. |
SPARE 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 258 -- March 31, 1945, Saturday AM
Wurzburg, Germany -- Storage Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The Wurzburg storage depot was the target in the morning of the 31st. Patchy weather made target identification difficult. The leader of the first box decided to bomb on its PPF plane. The leader of the second box made a visual attack. Bombing by boxes, the results as seen through the clouds appeared to be excellent. Violent explosions and clouds of smoke that billowed high into the sky followed the attack in which 222 x 500-pound incendiary bombs were dropped. There was moderate, accurate flak during the last few seconds of the bomb run. Although four aircraft received battle damage, all planes returned safely. Capt Miller, Lt. Connor and F/O Wrubelle, B&N, led the first box; Lt. Col Napier, Lt. Moore, B-N, led the second box.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 242 - 243
Mission #258 - 31 March - AM - Wurzburg Storage Area. Captain Miller with Lt. Conner and F/O Wrubelle, BNs and Lt. Col. Napier and Lt. Moore BN, led the boxes. Lt Fero and F/O Langsan BN, and Lts. Lackovich and Muir led flights. Patchy clouds obscured the target area so PFF pathfinders were used. The leader of the second box made a visual bomb run scoring an excellent hit. Violent explosions and high rising smoke billowing through the clouds were observed. Moderate, accurate flak damaged four planes, but all returned safely with no personal injuries.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
To end an extremely busy month, two more operational missions were flown on the 31st. The Wurzburg Storage Depot was attacked by the use of PPF equipment by the first box. The second box made a visual run and obtained very good results. Capt. Miller, with Lt. Conner and Flight Officer Wrubelle led the first box. Lt. Col. Napier, and his B/N Lt. Moore led the second box.
Mission # 259 was the last mission flown during the month. The Marienburg Storage Area was bombed. PPF aircraft led the formation on the bombing run. Cloud cover made a visual run impossible. Capt. Sommers with Lt. Kupits flew in the lead position of the second flight of the first box. Lt. Turner with his B/N, Lt. McGivern, was the flight leader of the third flight of the first box. Bombs were seen to hit the target area.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were run on the 31st of March. One was against the Wurzburg Storage Depot and the other against the Marionburg Storage area. Again bad weather made observation of results impossible. A total of fourteen crews took part in these two missions.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 31st, 1945
The "Fighting; Flying, F _ _ _ _ _ _", 416th Bomb Group rounded out its most active month of Operations on March 31st, chalking up mission number 41 and 42 for the month. Ground forces moving toward Wurzburg received a valuable assist from the 416th in the morning as the Invaders struck by PFF at a large storage depot in the city. Crews reported good to excellent results on visual observation. The 500-pound incendiary clusters started large fires in the block of warehouse buildings. Wurzburg is situated on the main line between Frankfurt and Nurnberg. Weak flak was encountered in the target area and four ships received battle damage. All crews returned.
To further deplete the enemy's supplies the 416th Group and five other 9th Bomb Division Groups struck at a storage area in Marienburg, across the Main River from Wurzburg. The vast storage area comprises 21 warehouse type and 20 smaller buildings, a permanent barracks area and a large motor park. American tanks and infantry were reported meeting resistance in this area and crews were told that if the enemy was to counter-attack it probably would be from that point. Box I obtained excellent results on the PFF lead, but the pathfinder aircraft of the second box dropped late. There were no losses, casualties or battle damages.
[March 31, 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 31, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |