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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 269 -- April 11, 1945, Wednesday PM Zwickau, Germany Marshalling Yards
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 269 -- April 11, 1945, Wednesday PM Zwickau, Germany Marshalling Yards
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 37 Total -- 37 A-26's Modified British System Reference: WK-330451 Secondary Target : Neustadt (J-3345) Summary of Results : One flight Undetermined, one Unsatisfactory, two Excellent, two Superior. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.71146,12.45763 (50° 42' 41" N, 12° 27' 27" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wK330451) (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 # 269 -- April 11, 1945, Wednesday PM
Zwickau, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
| 1 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Capt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. Lt Vollmayer, K.A. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
2 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. Lt Britt, J.W. S/Sgt Draft, L.B. |
3 669th 41-39393 2A-M A-26B Capt Shapard, J.M. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
5 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Haskell, R.W. Sgt Martin, G.A. |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Kirik, S.J. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Capt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. |
2 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. S/Sgt Davis, L.E. |
3 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Cpl Doran, M.J. |
| 4 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
5 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. S/Sgt Miller, H.K. |
6 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. F/O Smetanka, P.L. |
| 1 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Cpl Barry, R.M. |
2 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. S/Sgt Redding, R.D. Sgt Mowell, R.F. |
3 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Sgt Buckley, W.C. |
| 4 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Price, D.L. Sgt Helton, C. |
6 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Farmer, L.J. |
| SPARE 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Maj Conant, H.F. Cpl Wilson, B.R. Col Stromme, J.L. [Stromme (ETOUSA Reclassification Specialist)] |
| 1 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Capt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
2 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
| 4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. S/Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
5 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Dubi, R.J. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Richards, D.A. |
| 1 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Popeney, H.V. Lt Fry, C.F. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. |
2 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Capt Wheeler, R.V. S/Sgt Hall, M. |
3 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Harris, M.C. S/Sgt Ottaviano, J.O. |
| 4 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. Sgt Thompson, C.J. |
5 670th 41-39232 F6-N A-26B Lt Turman, A.R. S/Sgt Harmon, C.D. |
6 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Cpl Homler, R.K. |
| 1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Lt Laseter, W.H. Lt Schlefer, M.P. S/Sgt Calabrese, C.L. |
2 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Miller, W.A. |
3 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Musarra, A.J. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
5 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. S/Sgt Pauker, J.L. |
6 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 269 -- April 11, 1945, Wednesday PM
Zwickau, Germany -- Marshalling Yards
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
That afternoon, our planes made a deep penetration into Germany to attack the Zwickau marshalling yards. The yards were completely destroyed by the 37 attacking planes. Between 80 and 100 freight cars were destroyed or damaged, 40 to 50 direct hits cut the tracks, and three buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. Capt Miller, with Lts Connor and Vollmayer, B&N, and Lt Blomgren, Lt Johnson, B-N led the two boxes.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 251 - 252
Mission #269 - 11 April - PM - Zwickau Marshalling Yards. This was another deep penetration into Germany with 37 planes. The yards were full of freight cars, estimated to be up to 100 destroyed and damaged. There were 40 to 50 direct hits on the railroad tracks and three buildings. Captain Miller with Lts. Conner and Vollmayer, BNs plus Lt. Blomgren with Lt. Johnson, BN led boxes. Lt. Lackovich and Muir BN, Captain Pair and Corum BN, - Lt. Withington and Lt. Ashley, BN plus Lt. Popeney and Lt. Fry - Lt. Simpson and F/O Smetanka BN led flights. Bombing was rated as excellent.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The second mission of the day also attained excellent results. The Zwickau Marshalling Yards were bombed by the formation. Both of the boxes were led by Pilot-Bombardier teams of this squadron. Lt. Miller, with Lts. Conner and Vollmayer as his Navigator and Bombardier, led the entire formation. The Second Box was led by Lt. Blomgren with Lt. Johnson as his B/N.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Flying two missions a day was continued on 11 April 1945, with maximum effort in the morning, in which 12 670th crews took part, against Bernburg Marshalling Yard, with excellent to superior results. Evasive action prevented photos of results on this mission. Lt. Warren, Lt. Forbes, and Lt. Grunig/Lt. Morris led our flights. Lt. Popeney and Lt. Fry led our flight on mission No. 269 in the afternoon against Zwickall Marshalling Yard with excellent to superior results for the group.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 11, 1945
Two marshalling yards were hit by the A-69ers on April 11th 1945 with excellent and superior results. In the morning the Group dropped 500 pound GPs on the Bernburg marshalling yard with devastating results. In the afternoon the Zwickau yards were blasted on the 416ths second maximum effort job of the day. Captain Pair and "Shorty" Corum really did a job on the Zwickau M/Y. The center of bursts for their flight was just 100 feet for the DMPI, hits being made on goods wagons, tracks and buildings.
Both marshalling yards are located close by to Leipzig in the path of the Third Army. These yards would be used by the Nazis in building defenses in the area west of Leipzig. At the Bernburg yard crews reported direct hits among tracks and installations in the yards. Red flashes of flame punctuated the bombing attack. The yard at Zwickau was reported to be full of railway cars before the bombing. Just a few bursts of flak were seen, and all crews returned safely from both missions.
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[April 11, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, April 11, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |