416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 225 -- March 8, 1945, Thursday PM Wulfrath, Germany Motor Transport Depot
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 43 Total -- 41 A-26's, 2 B-26's (PFF) Modified British System Reference: F-530970 Secondary Target : Selected in accordance with IX Bomb Div Cipher F-576-E (9-2-45) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to cloud cover. Three A-26's dropped Window. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.27010,7.06352 (51° 16' 12" N, 7° 3' 49" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wF530970) (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 # 225 -- March 8, 1945, Thursday PM
Wulfrath, Germany -- Motor Transport Depot
1 669th 43-22521 2A-N A-26C Capt Stebbins, B.D. Lt Calloway, A.S. Lt McQuade, R.J. S/Sgt Brown, W.J. |
2 671st 43-22490 5C-X A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. S/Sgt Connery, T.F. |
3 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
4 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Capt Behlmer, R.L. S/Sgt Donnelly, W.W. |
5 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B F/O Swap, F.W. Sgt Santandrea, M. |
6 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Depner, A.W. Sgt Fair, V.F. |
1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Capt Andersen, C.J., Jr. Lt Babbage, W. S/Sgt Euga, P.G. |
2 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Annin, W.W. S/Sgt Schafer, E.L. |
3 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Robinson, J.W. |
4 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Parker, P.E. S/Sgt Heitell, S.L. |
5 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Laseter, W.H. Sgt Pettinicchi, A. |
6 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B F/O Gunkel, H.G. Pvt Hawk, D.W. |
1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 41-39361 5H-M A-26B Lt Parkhurst, G.J. Sgt Newman, F. |
3 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Russell, R.A. Sgt Spence, J.I. |
4 668th 43-22389 5H-X A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Brzezinski, E.P. |
5 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. Sgt Schwartzkopf, J.R. |
6 668th 41-39213 5H-A A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Cpl Youlios, D., Jr. |
SPARE 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
1 669th 43-22487 2A-J A-26C Lt Hall, R.B. F/O Goss, T.L. S/Sgt Jackson, W.S. Sgt Richards, D.B. |
2 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Lt Miller, J.H. Sgt Helton, C. Sgt Davis, L.E. |
3 669th 43-22351 2A-F A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Sgt Helt, A. Sgt Pompa, P.A. |
1 670th 43-22507 F6-Q A-26C Lt Rooney, R.J. Lt Kirk, R.L. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt Caudell, S.R. |
2 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Cornell, R.H., Jr. Lt Enman, R.E. S/Sgt Carter, A.E. |
3 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Capt Borman, H.W. Pfc Finnell, D.O. |
4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G. |
5 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Kimball, A.H. |
6 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B Lt Ford, R. Cpl Murro, D.J. |
1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Heinke, W.R. Lt Rosenquist, A.E. S/Sgt Kidd, W.L. |
2 670th 41-39215 F6-R A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C. |
3 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Bower, R.S. Sgt Puskas, N.A. |
4 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Popeney, H.V. S/Sgt Arnett, W.E. |
5 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Plant, R. |
6 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Wright, H.T. |
1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Lt Brown, C.J. Lt Kerns, J.E. S/Sgt Sunderland, H.E. |
2 671st 41-39237 5C-D A-26B Lt Cocke, J.B. Sgt Hardin, M.F. |
3 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Fero, D.A. S/Sgt Huss, C.F. |
4 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Herman, A.E. S/Sgt Barber, F.E. |
5 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Graub, R.E. |
6 671st 43-22419 5C-Z A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Ruskiewich, J.J. |
SPARE 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Sewell, J.C. S/Sgt Teran, A. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 225 -- March 8, 1945, Thursday PM
Wulfrath, Germany -- Motor Transport Depot
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
After a day of rest, the motor transport depot at Wulfrath was attacked on the 8th, using PPF through a solid cloud cover. There was no flak. An assortment of 500 pound incendiary bombs and 250 and 500 pound demolition bombs were carried. The box leaders were Capt Stebbins, Lts Calloway and McQuade, B&N, and Lt Rooney, Lts Kirk and McNutt, B&N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 222
Mission #225 - 8 March - Wulfrath Motor Transport Depot. A large castle and eight smaller buildings were headquarters for this important target. Captain Stebbins with Lts. McQuade and Calloway, BNs with Lt. Rooney and Lts. Kirk and Koch, BNs led boxes. Lt. Stanley and F/O Blount, BN, - Lt. Anderson and Babbage, BN, - Lts. Brown and Kerns, BN and Lts. Lackovich and Muir, BN led flights. Bombing was through PFF once more with no results being checked out. No enemy opposition hindered the mission.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Another Flight Leader from this squadron was called upon to lead the group formation on March 8th. Capt. Stebbins led the first first box in an attack on the Motor Transport Depot at Wulfrath. Excellent results were achieved by the use of PPF technique.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
On 8 March the Wulfren Motor Transport Depot was bombed with undetermined results. This was a pathfinder mission and 13 of our crews took part.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 8th, 1945
With the bridge-head across the Rhine less than 24 hours old, the 416th Group went out against the motor vehicle depot at Wulfrath, 13 miles east of Dusseldorf, on March 5th, 1945. Housed in a large castle and eight smaller buildings, the depot is believed to be very active due to its proximity to the battle area. Bombing was again done by Pathfinder and crews were unable to spot their bomb hits. No enemy sorties were encountered and all crews returned safely.
[March 8, 1945], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map Map showing Western Allies and Axis troop position details in Western Europe as of approximately 1200 hours, March 8, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |