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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 267 -- April 10, 1945, Tuesday PM Stassfurt/Leopoldshall, Germany Oil Storage Depot
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 267 -- April 10, 1945, Tuesday PM Stassfurt/Leopoldshall, Germany Oil Storage Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 22 Total -- 22 A-26's Modified British System Reference: RD-673673 Secondary Target : Eisleben (640330) Summary of Results : Flight scores one Unsatisfactory, three Excellent. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.84203,11.61723 (51° 50' 31" N, 11° 37' 2" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rD673673) (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 # 267 -- April 10, 1945, Tuesday PM
Stassfurt/Leopoldshall, Germany -- Oil Storage Depot
| 1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Rose, J.W. Lt Orr, L.A. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Remiszewski, A. F/O Lehneis, A.J., Jr. S/Sgt DiOrio, F.M. |
3 671st 41-39265 5C-V A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. Sgt Appleman, M. |
| 4 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Ames, W.H. Cpl Schoen, A.E., Jr. S/Sgt Miller, H.K. |
5 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Price, D.L. Sgt Reicher, J.F. |
6 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. Sgt Helton, C. [Left mag. Out on left engine] |
| 1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Jordan, C.S. Lt Mulgrew, R.P. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Reyes, M.R. Lt LaHaye, W.H. [LaHaye (Weather)] |
2 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Kirik, S.J. |
3 669th 43-22354 2A-S A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. Sgt Hawk, O.T. |
| 4 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
5 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. |
6 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Capt Shapard, J.M. S/Sgt McGuire, J.J. |
| 1 669th 43-22304 2A-T A-26C Capt DuFault, W.F. F/O Cardinale, O.A. S/Sgt Richardson, K.E. |
2 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. S/Sgt Gillespie, R.H. |
3 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Martin, E.C. S/Sgt Draft, L.B. |
| 4 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
5 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt McGaughy, W.S. |
| 1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Lt Parker, P.E. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
2 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. S/Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Singleton, L.E. |
| 4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
5 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Youlios, D., Jr. |
6 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Fidler, W.H. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 267 -- April 10, 1945, Tuesday PM
Stassfurt/Leopoldshall, Germany -- Oil Storage Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
While the first mission of the day was returning from its target in Czechoslovakia, 22 more planes took off to attack buildings which housed oil pumps for an underground storage at Stasssfurt/ Deopolds-Hall. Crews reported large sheets of flame and smoke that climbed 6-7,000 feet into the sky. Many of the buildings were destroyed or damaged. Forty-four tons of bombs were dropped on the target. Three airfields were observed to have planes dispersed on them, but there was no fighter reaction. Lt Brown, with Lts Kerns and Orr, B&N, led the formation.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 251
Mission #267 - 10 April - PM - Stassfurt/Deopolds-Shall Oil Storage Depot. Before the first mission got back from Sudeten, the second mission was taking off with 22 more planes to destroy this storage and loading facility including a mine entrance, a pipeline and underground tanks. We joined up the the 409th Bomb Group. Three out of four of our flights scored excellent results, leaving fires and explosions. Three buildings were left aflame with sheets of fires visible at 6 to 7000 feet in the air. Our crews saw three airfields in the area, but no planes rose to attack our formation. Maybe they were out of gas. Lt. Brown with Lts. Kerns and Orr were the BN team.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
The second mission of the same day was flown against the Stassfurt-Leopoldshall Oil Pumps and Underground Storage Tanks. Large sheets of flame were seen immediately after the bombs hit. Smoke was seen to rise to an altitude of between six and seven thousand feet. Excellent bombing results were obtained by the flights led by Lt. Jordan and Capt. DuFault. Lts. Mulgrew and Moore flew with Lt. Jordan in the lead aircraft of the Second Flight of the First Box, while Flight Officer Cardinale flew with Capt. Dufault in the number one position of the Third Flight of the First Box.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were flown on the 10th of April but we participated with 12 crews on the morning mission only which was Eger (Railway Viaduct). Major Ferris, Lt. Kirk and Lt. McNutt leading the formation, this was the first mission for Lt. Kirk since the accident in which Capt. Rooney, Capt. Slaughter, and Sgt. Kamische were killed. Also it was the first mission in which Major Ferris and Lt. Kirk flew as a team. Results for the group were excellent to superior, but Major Ferris' flight achieving superior results. This was the first time for aircraft from this division to attack targets in Czechoslovakia. The first bombs released by Lt. Kirk scored direct hits on the bridge, cutting it. The afternoon mission against Stassfurt-Loepoldshall POL Depot was attacked by 416th and 409th Bomb Groups with the 416th having 22 aircraft in the first box and the 409th having 18 aircraft in the second box.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 10th, 1945
The 416th chalked up two missions on April 10th 1945, dispatching four flights on each mission with just an hour interval between the two. Both took off in the afternoon and returned as darkness approached. For the first time Invaders hit a target in Czechoslavakia now called Sudeten Germany. The target was the Eger Railroad Viaduct...1344 feet long. When the 416th and two other outfits had dropped their thousand pounders on the span, it was knocked down and buildings and roads in the area were blown to bits. Three excellents and a superior were annexed by the 416th Group. Captain Pair and Lt. Corum snagging one of the excellents. His bombs fell in an excellent pattern on the bridge. The bombing of this viaduct was part of a plan to cut Germany in two from West to East by severing communications, as U.S. Armies drive toward a link-up with Russian Forces from the East.
On the second mission the 416th linked up with the 409th to bomb the Strassfurt-Shall Oil Storage Depot, 47 miles southeast of Erfurt. The attack was directed against storage and loading facilities, including the mine entrance, pipeĦlines and underground tanks. Returning crews reported the installation severely impaired with explosions and fires. Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns led the formation and bombed with excellent results. Their bombs destroyed three large buildings and started large fires. This outfit made three out of four excellents, while the 409th scored a superior out of two flights.Flak was not encountered on either missions and everyone returned:
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[April 10, 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 10, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |