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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 276 -- April 17, 1945, Tuesday PM Tubingen, Germany Ordnance Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 276 -- April 17, 1945, Tuesday PM Tubingen, Germany Ordnance Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 38 A-26's Modified British System Reference: W-991911 Secondary Target : Marshalling Yards (W-8031, W-2565, X-4011, X-4112, X-5961) Summary of Results : Two flights Undetermined, three Excellent, one No Attack - Malfunction of bomb release mechanism resulting in failure of flight leader to release bombs. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 48.51218,9.07946 (48° 30' 44" N, 9° 4' 46" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wW991911) (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 # 276 -- April 17, 1945, Tuesday PM
Tubingen, Germany -- Ordnance Depot
| 1 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Capt Evans, H.M. Lt McCartney, T.M. Lt Myrold, H.E. S/Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. |
2 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. S/Sgt Pauker, J.L. |
3 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Stewart, A.B. |
| 4 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Roberts, W.H. S/Sgt Hood, A.R. |
5 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. S/Sgt Hicks, C.M. |
6 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Youlios, D., Jr. |
| 1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Lt Popeney, H.V. Lt Fry, C.F. S/Sgt Arnett, W.E. |
2 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. S/Sgt Kubjalko, A. |
3 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. S/Sgt Ricketson, J.J. |
| 4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
5 669th 41-39393 2A-M A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Licker, M. |
6 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Sgt Thompson, C.J. |
| 1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. Lt Pavey, M. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Sheehan, W.E., Jr. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. Lt Peppers, R.E. |
3 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
| 4 670th 41-39232 F6-N A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. Sgt Sgroi, A.P. |
5 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. S/Sgt Stroup, C.C., Jr. |
6 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Wright, H.T. |
| SPARE 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
CAMERA 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Capt Wheeler, R.V. Sgt Heenan, D.K. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. Sgt Snider, S.J. [Scheuerman, Snider (4th CCU)] |
| 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 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. |
3 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Montrose, J.H. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
| 4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. Sgt Mirabella, P.A. [Mirabella (4th CCU)] |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Sgt Hawk, D.W. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Musarra, A.J. |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Jordan, C.S. Lt Mulgrew, R.P. S/Sgt Jensen, K.F. |
2 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
3 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. S/Sgt Draft, L.B. |
| 4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. S/Sgt Malara, V.A. |
5 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. |
6 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. |
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Cpl Barry, R.M. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. S/Sgt Davis, L.E. |
3 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. S/Sgt Miller, A.H. |
| 4 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Farmer, L.J. |
6 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. [Not airborne] |
| SPARE 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Capt Nielsen, L.C. S/Sgt Eaton, A.B. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 276 -- April 17, 1945, Tuesday PM
Tubingen, Germany -- Ordnance Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The target in the afternoon was the very important Tubingen ordnance depot. Five flights scored good to excellent results on the target with many hits on the ordnance buildings, and other buildings and roads in the target area. Because of a bomb release malfunction, the other flights did not bomb although it made four runs on the target. The first box was led by Capt Evans (Lts McCartney and Myrrold, B&N) and Capt Stanley, F/O Blount, B-N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 254 - 255
Mission #276 - 17 April - PM - Tubingen Ordnance Depot. This was a supply center for the Germans in the Bavarian Alps in southwestern Germany 18 miles south of Stuttgart. Five flights scored good to excellent pattern with many drops on ordnance buildings warehouses and tracks. It was determined that large amount of supplies were stored here. Visual reports came in as excellent hits. Bomb release malfunctions caused flights to make four separate runs at the target, but they were unable to get the machines to cooperate, so no bombs were dropped. The first box was led by Captain Evans with BNs Lts. McCartney and Myrrold. Box two leader was Captain Stanley with F/O Blount. Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN, - Lt. Popeney and Lt. Fry BN, and Lts. Heinke and Rosenquist BN led flights. This was the first mission for 670th BNs, Lt. Pavey and Lt. Peppers. Lt. Lackovich flew his last mission this afternoon after flying as flight leader with Lt. Muir and also flew as deputy leader. He is on his way back to the states.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
For the afternoon mission of the same day, the Tribingen Ordnance Depot was bombed. Lt. Jordan's B/N Lt. Mulgrew, scored excellent results in the bombing. This Pilot-Bombardier team led the Second Flight of the Second Box of the formation.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The fast pace of two missions a day was continued on 17 April 1945. 12 of our aircraft flew on the morning mission; target Magdeburg, which was maximum effort. Lt. Hall/F/O Goss and Lt. Errotabere/Lt. Wilbur led our flights with results reported as excellent to superior. 12 crews also participated in the second mission for the day, No. 276, target, Tubingen Ordnance Depot. Results were good to excellent. Our flights were led by Lt. Popeney/Lt. Fry and Lt. Heinke/Lt. Rosenquist, Lt. Pavey. This was the first mission for Lt. Pavey and Lt. Peppers, Navigators.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 17th, 1945
The heavily defended city of Magdeburg, standing in the way of the Ninth Army's advance across the Elbe River, was pounded for nearly four hours on the morning of April 17th as the ten other bomb division groups dropped tons of explosives on the defended town. Major Dunn, Lt. Brewer and Lt. Kerns led the formation and bombs from their flight fell into the town with superior results. Lt. Buskirk and Lt. Hanna led the second box, but received an undetermined as the target ran off the edge of the film. Visual observation indicated that the bombs fell in the town with excellent results. There was no battle damage.
The 416th was the first Group to bomb the defended city after ground forces withdrew 1,500 yards. The order was to completely level the town. U.S. forces have met their heaviest organized resistance since the breakthrough at that point.
In the afternoon the Invaders hit a supply center for the Nazis's proposed final stronghold in the Bavarian hills of southwestern Germany. Large quantities of stores were believed damaged, warehouses destroyed and rail lines cut by the 416ths' bombing of Tubingen, 18 miles south of Stuttgart. Lt. Lackovich and Lt. Muir led the 671st flight. From visual reports they scored an excellent, but the target ran off the edge of the film and they were given an undetermined. Again flak was not encountered and all crews returned in tact.
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[April 17, 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 17, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |