416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 157 -- October 14, 1944, Saturday AM Mayen, Germany Railroad Bridge
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Place of Take-Off : A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France A/C Dispatched : 38 Total -- 31 A-20G's, 7 A-20J's Target Ref : MAYEN R.R. BRIDGE Illustration   : G.S.G.S. 4416 SHEET S-1 Illustration Ref : 631930 Secondary Target : Targets of Military Value Summary of Results : No Attack - 10/10 Overcast. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.33555,7.21855 (50° 20' 8" N, 7° 13' 7" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wL631930) (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 # 157 -- October 14, 1944, Saturday AM
Mayen, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
1 669th 43-10135 2A-T A-20J Capt Huff, M.J. Lt Kupits, J. Sgt Clark, R.A. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
2 669th 43-10190 2A-I A-20G Lt Street, M.S. S/Sgt Epps, E.T. S/Sgt Fleischman, G.I. |
3 669th 43-9692 2A-M A-20G Lt Tripp, W.F., Jr. S/Sgt Scott, J.O. S/Sgt Mallory, D.F. |
4 669th 43-10159 2A-G A-20G Lt Connor, J.S. S/Sgt Rodgers, H.C. S/Sgt VanDuyne, J.E. |
5 669th 43-10197 2A-F A-20G Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Sgt McGuire, J.J. Pvt Reid, K.A. |
6 669th 43-10155 2A-V A-20G Lt Sorrels, D.W. Cpl Triber, H.I. Cpl Malara, V.A. |
1 668th 43-21719 5H-V A-20J Capt Prentiss, R.B. Lt Bursiel, F.H. S/Sgt McCreery, J.E. S/Sgt Sylva, H.J. |
2 668th 43-9362 5H-L A-20G Lt Cannon, L.E. Sgt Robinson, J.W. Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
3 668th 43-9194 5H-C A-20G Lt Kenny, J.P. S/Sgt Metzler, L.V. S/Sgt Sittarich, J.J. |
4 668th 43-10150 5H-N A-20G Lt Mish, C.C. S/Sgt Clark, C.J., Jr. S/Sgt Chustz, R.F. |
5 668th 43-9701 5H-H A-20G Lt McCready, T.D. Sgt Lemonds, W.E. Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
6 668th 43-9907 5H-O A-20G Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Hantske, D. Sgt Roberts, J.H. |
1 668th 43-21717 5H-P A-20J Capt Bartmus, G.F. Lt Hardy, J.F. S/Sgt Burch, R.W. S/Sgt Yost, C.H., Jr. |
2 670th 43-9892 F6-L A-20G Lt Stanley, C.S. S/Sgt Burkhalter, J.C. Sgt Collier, C.B. |
3 668th 43-21480 5H-B A-20G Lt Kreh, E.B. S/Sgt Kelton, H.E. S/Sgt Schenck, D.R. |
4 668th 43-10226 5H-E A-20G Lt Evans, H.M. Sgt Skeens, C.L. Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. |
5 668th 43-10210 5H-Q A-20G Lt Montrose, J.H. Sgt Gandy, R.S. Sgt Felkel, J.W. |
6 668th 43-21809 5H-A A-20G Lt Parker, P.E. Sgt Galloway, A.F. Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
SPARE 668th 43-10176 5H-T A-20G Lt Wright, J.W. Sgt Profita, P.J. Sgt Simmonds, J.R. |
1 669th 43-21469 2A-J A-20J Capt Morton, R.J. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Webb, C.L. S/Sgt Nicks, R.W. |
2 669th 43-9442 2A-D A-20J Lt Miller, E.L. Lt Conner, J.K. Sgt Malloy, J.F. S/Sgt Pemberton, J.M. |
3 669th 43-9376 2A-O A-20G Lt Land, W.H. S/Sgt Abriola, D.R. Sgt Fair, V.F. |
4 669th 43-9743 2A-W A-20G Lt Siggs, W.C. Sgt Carstens, R.W. Sgt Sharp, R.P., Jr. |
5 669th 43-9202 2A-B A-20G Lt MacManus, P.F.E., Jr. Sgt Kruger, C.J. Sgt Donnelly, W.W. |
6 669th 43-9929 2A-C A-20G Lt DuBose, M.W. Sgt Griffin, D.L., Jr. Sgt Walters, J.H. |
1 671st 43-22065 5C-E A-20J Lt Greenley, R.E. Lt Mitchell, R.H. S/Sgt Worden, H.C. S/Sgt Rzepka, J.J. |
2 671st 43-9714 5C-N A-20G Capt Hixon, S.M. Sgt Connery, T.F. Sgt Barry, R.M. |
3 671st 43-10214 5C-C A-20G Lt Withington, D.L., III Sgt Huss, C.F. Sgt McElhattan, L.D. |
4 671st 43-9493 5C-V A-20G Lt Smith, R.H. S/Sgt Mahoney, R.J. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
5 671st 43-9711 5C-M A-20G Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Stephenson, G.G. Cpl Davis, W.G., Jr. |
6 671st 43-9719 5C-J A-20G Lt Estes, C.L. S/Sgt Orvold, C.R. S/Sgt Griswold, R.M. |
1 671st 43-22023 5C-G A-20J Lt Pair, H.F. Lt Corum, J.L. S/Sgt Marion, H.A. S/Sgt Adams, V.P. |
2 671st 43-9219 5C-D A-20G Lt Andrews, H.D., Jr. S/Sgt Cook, G.M. Sgt Gurkin, C.W., Jr. |
3 671st 43-9841 5C-O A-20G Lt Herman, A.E. Sgt Herr, R.E. S/Sgt Young, J.O. |
4 671st 43-9393 5C-K A-20G Lt Perkins, R.D. S/Sgt Swank, O.E. S/Sgt Linneman, R.H. |
5 670th 43-9207 F6-B A-20G Lt Remiszewski, A. Sgt Thompson, G.H., Jr. Sgt Miguez, J.H. |
6 670th 43-9674 F6-R A-20G Lt Gary, J.C. Sgt Schoen, A.E., Jr. Sgt Cheuvront, R.W. |
SPARE 670th 43-9380 F6-N A-20G Lt Fero, D.A. Sgt Johnson, R.J. Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 157 -- October 14, 1944, Saturday AM
Mayen, Germany -- Railroad Bridge
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1944"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
On the 14th, Captain Huff and Captain Morton led two boxes in an attack on the railroad bridge at Mayen, just west of Koblenz. A solid bank of 10/10 clouds covered the target so that no attack could be made.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 163
Mission #157 - 14 October - Mayen Railroad Bridge. This
bridge permitted German troops to cross the river toward
Aachen, and it had to be taken out. Weather prevented that from
happening, again. Captain Prentiss and Lt. Burseil, BN, Captain
Bartmus and Lt. Hardy, BN, Lts. Greeley and Mitchell, BN, and
Lts. Pair and Corum, BN led flights. No enemy action, so all
planes returned to base safely.
A training mission of six planes from the 671st
squadron resulted in tragedy for some, since they
inadvertently flew over Dunkirk on a training mission.
This area was held by the Germans yet and
they let the planes overhead know it. Six relatively
new pilots and one new bombardier-navigator were
being trained by Lt. Royalty, a seasoned BN. Lt. J. J.
Lackovich would be flying with Lt. E. C. Francis as
a new BN. Approaching Dunkirk, the gunners let
go, hitting Lt. G. L. Milhorn, in No. 6 slot of the six
plane flight. An engine caught fire and the pilot lost
altitude fast. The two gunners, Sgt. D. Chest and
Cpl. W. J. Doran bailed out. Before starting back to
base, the formation checked the spot where the
plane was seen, aflame, alongside a road.
Other pilots of the flight thought that the pilot did
not make it. A few days later Captain Shaefer and
Captain Moore flew to an airfield close to where
Milhorn's plane went down to gather information
about the crash and find out where Milhorn's body
might be. They met Lt. Milhorn there slightly
injured with burn scars on his face and neck.
Milhorn related that when he saw his engine on fire,
he instructed the gunners to go, and he straightened
the plane up. The fire in the bomb bay was getting
worse, so he pulled the emergency hatch release but
it didn't work. He knocked the hatch off and stood
up, facing the tail of the ship, and the slip stream
took him back, fortunately, clearing the vertical stabilizer
tail piece. He was at about 4000 feet, parachuted
down and met up with his two gunners, who
landed about five miles from his landing spot.
French people picked them up, took them to an
RAF field, where they received exceptional treatment.
Sgt. Chest and Lt. Milhorn returned to our
base. Cpl. Doran had to be hospitalized due to flak
injury to his leg.
If this was training, what would combat be like?
On October 15, newly arrived pilots were being trained
for combat mission flights. The 670th Squadron had a flight of
six up for formation flying, when bad weather closed in. Pilot,
Lieutenant Samuel P. Leishman with gunners Sgts. Eugene
Shempren and Joseph Siracusa lost their lives trying to get under
the cloud bank. His plane was in a thirty degree dive and struck
a large tree on top of a hill, wiping out the plane and crew.
One plane piloted by Lt. Sheley lost his position in the
flight and became disoriented. He tried to find an airfield to land.
He saw an open field and went in. His nose wheel twisted when
it hit a bump in the field, badly damaging the plane. The crew
escaped unhurt.
Captain Dunn, leading the training flight landed near
Paris and another made it to Brussels. Others made it to England
safely.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Major Dunn led a mission on October 8th against Linnich, Germany. This mission [No. 154] was the last flown during the month for our squadron, as on October 13th we were put on a non-operational status while our crews completed training in the new "Invader" aircraft. The 670th was the first squadron to start and to complete this training. Bad weather badly hampered the efforts of the crews to become operational in the new planes in the desired time.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
October 14th, 1944
A heavy overcast at the Seigfried line battle sector prevented the whole 9th Bombardment Division from dropping their bombs on a series of railroad bridges, which the Germans had been using to bring in supplies and men to the city of Aschen. The 416th was assigned the bridge at Mayan, but there was not even a small break in the cloud cover. For a change, battle damage was nil.
[October 14, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, October 14, 1944 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |