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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 186 -- January 15, 1945, Monday AM Simmern, Germany Railroad Bridge
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 186 -- January 15, 1945, Monday AM Simmern, Germany Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 29 Total -- 23 A-26's, 6 A-20's Modified British System Reference: L-839530 Secondary Target : No Alternate Targets Authorized Summary of Results : Box 1 - Unobserved, Box 2 did not bomb visually because of 10/10 cloud cover. Attempt to bomb on Gee equipment not successful - Gee box not operating satisfactorily. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 49.97664,7.51258 (49° 58' 36" N, 7° 30' 45" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wL839530) (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 # 186 -- January 15, 1945, Monday AM
Simmern, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
| 1 671st 44-089 5C-R A-20K Lt Col Willetts, D.L. Lt Royalty, P.G. Cpl Rose, J.W. S/Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
2 671st 41-39234 5C-P A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
3 671st 41-39208 5C-L A-26B Lt Miller, J.H. S/Sgt Galender, J.W. |
| 4 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
5 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Cpl Farmer, L.J. |
6 No Aircraft Lt Edstrom, L.W. Cpl Pompa, P.A. [No A/C Available. Omit from Gas Report] |
| 1 670th 44-173 F6-W A-20K Capt Atkinson, P.G., Jr. Lt Ackerson, D.G. Sgt Friday, L.R. Sgt Collier, J.L. |
2 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Cook, J.A. Sgt Jackson, W.S. |
3 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Warren, J.R. S/Sgt Turpin, S.J. |
| 4 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Grunig, D.B. S/Sgt Dias, M.E. |
5 670th 41-39222 F6-S A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
6 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B F/O Green, J.A. Cpl Kamischke, R.J. |
| 1 668th 44-081 5H-P A-20K Lt Mish, C.C. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Felkel, J.W. Sgt Windisch, R.P. |
2 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt Jacobsen, O.F. Sgt Pettinicchi, A. |
3 668th 43-22290 5H-L A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt VanGalder, D.W. [A/C Out of Commission for Generator before Taxi Time. Omit from Gas Report] |
| 4 668th 41-39219 5H-E A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. Sgt Williford, C.W. |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. Sgt Rivard, C.J. |
6 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Nathanson, A.S. Cpl Kaminski, C.J. |
| 1 671st 43-22023 5C-X A-20J Lt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Fessler, H.S. S/Sgt Brown, R.J. |
2 670th 41-39235 F6-M A-26B Lt Wallman, M. Cpl Helt, A. [Returned Early Late Take Off Could Not Catch Formation] |
3 No Aircraft Lt Gary, J.C. [A/C Out of Commission for Bomb Rack Before Taxi Time. Omit from Gas Report] |
| 4 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
5 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Mooney, S. Cpl Schumacher, R.C. |
6 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Chest, D. |
| 1 670th 44-614 F6-A A-20K Lt Col Napier, J.G. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Carstens, R.W. S/Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
2 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt DuBose, M.W. S/Sgt Walters, J.H. |
3 669th 41-39241 2A-F A-26B Lt Johnson, R.K. Cpl Brandt, H.E. |
| 4 669th 41-39238 2A-M A-26B Lt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt Burland, A.J. Lt Weinert, C.E. |
6 No Aircraft Lt Hayter, E.R. Cpl Dalton, A.A. [Omit from Gas Report. No Aircraft Available] |
| 1 669th 44-075 2A-J A-20K Capt DeMun, E.E. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. Sgt Kruger, C.J. |
2 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. Cpl DeStefano, R. |
3 669th 43-22292 2A-H A-26B Lt Poundstone, L.E. Cpl Richardson, L.L. [Not Airborne Could Not Get Flaps Down. Radio & Interphone Out. Turret Out Frozen Solenoid] |
| 4 669th 43-22306 2A-N A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. [Returned Early Engine Trouble. Nose Wheel Would Not Retract - Fire in Bombay] |
5 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Cpl Klingman, W.H. |
6 No Aircraft Lt Martin, E.C. Cpl Sumner, W.R., Jr. [No A/C Available. Omit from Gas Report] |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 186 -- January 15, 1945, Monday AM
Simmern, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
The Simmern railroad bridge was attacked again on the 15th. Sixteen of the 29 planes dropped their bombs using Gee equipment through clouds. Captain Pair, leading the second box, did not see the bombs of the first box, led by Lt Col Willetts, go away. Because his own equipment was not operating, he and his box returned their bombs. Results were unobserved because of 10/10 cloud cover at the target.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 194
Mission #186 - 15 January - Simmern Bridge. For some unknown reason, the 416th was the only Ninth Bombardment Division Group to fly a mission today with 45 planes, led by Lt. Col. Willetts and Lt. Royalty, BN. Captain Pair and Lt. Corum BN led Box II. Lt. Mish and BN Lt. Shaft led a flight. GEE equipment had to be used because of complete cloud cover at the target. The second box did not drop due to some malfunction of the bombsight. Results of other flights were undetermined due to the clouds. Previous bombings of this bridge showed the approaches around the bridge destroyed, but the structure still stands. If vehicles could not get to it due to the approaches destroyed, the bridge had limited usage. No flak, so all returned safely after this four hour trip. The base is still on an alert status, with guards being doubled up.
"668th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 15 January, the only Group of the 9th-Bomb Division to take the air for combat, we aimed our bombs once more at the Simmern bridge, this time dropping on GEE from above a heavy overcast and for undetermined results.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On the 15th and 16th, the Simmern Railway Bridge was again
attacked. The results on both missions were undetermined but the
bridge was still standing when viewed by reconnaisance later. However
the approach to the bridge was out.
A letter was received 16 January by F/Sgt Combs from S/Sgt
Gossett's mother telling that her son wrote her from a prison camp in
Germany. This was the first word the squadron received since S/Sgt
Gossett was missing in action in October of 1944.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
January 15th, 1945
The 416th again bombed the Simmern Railway Bridge, 26 miles north of Koblenz, in the only operation by Ninth Bombardment Division on January 15th . There was a 10/10 cover and bombs were dropped on "Gee". Colonel Willetts and Lt. Pair led the boxes, but results were undetermined. No flak was encountered and all planes returned safely.
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[January 15, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, January 15, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |