416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 248 -- March 22, 1945, Thursday PM Borken, Germany Built Up Area
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 45 Total -- 45 A-26's Modified British System Reference: A-396612 Secondary Target : Ahaus (A-500870) Summary of Results : Unobserved due to smoke and haze. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 51.84591,6.86076 (51° 50' 45" N, 6° 51' 39" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) rA396612) (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 # 248 -- March 22, 1945, Thursday PM
Borken, Germany -- Built Up Area
1 668th 43-22505 5H-Y A-26C Maj Shaefer, R.F. Lt Hand, A.R. Lt Reeves, F.A., Jr. S/Sgt Merritt, O.N., Jr. Brig Gen Backus, E.N. |
2 668th 43-22378 5H-O A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Musarra, A.J. |
3 668th 43-22385 5H-D A-26B Lt Wright, J.W. S/Sgt VanGalder, D.W. |
4 668th 41-39259 5H-H A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
5 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. S/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
6 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Phillips, J.P. Sgt Miller, W.A. |
1 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Hall, R.B. F/O Goss, T.L. S/Sgt VanWert, G.R. |
2 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. Sgt Harris, M.C. |
3 670th 41-39224 F6-E A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Sienkiewicz, J., Jr. |
4 670th 41-39416 F6-O A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Cianciosi, A.A. S/Sgt Elliott, F.W. |
5 670th 43-22315 F6-L A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. S/Sgt Basile, A.C. |
6 670th 43-22307 F6-N A-26B Lt Balch, W.M. Sgt Langley, T.R. |
1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. |
2 670th 43-22320 F6-S A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Kimball, A.H. |
3 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Wallace, J.F. Sgt Krantz, J.G. |
4 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Downing, W.E. S/Sgt Hummer, J.A. |
5 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Capt Borman, H.W. Sgt Perujo, R.J. |
6 669th 43-22383 2A-V A-26B Lt O'Brien, J.V. Sgt Corey, F.E. |
1 668th 43-22481 5H-P A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. Lt Schlefer, M.P. S/Sgt Edenburn, J.C. |
2 668th 43-22495 5H-G A-26C Lt Long, R.H. S/Sgt McCarthy, C.J. |
3 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Geyer, J.F. Lt Reamsy, S. [Reamey (Infantry)] |
4 668th 41-39335 5H-W A-26B Lt Laseter, W.H. Sgt Cross, R.M. |
5 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Tank, F.R. Sgt Harmon, F.B. |
6 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Blevins, J.W. Sgt Gentry, F., Jr. |
1 670th 43-22503 F6-N A-26C Lt Blomgren, J.E. Lt Johnson, G.G. S/Sgt Fleming, L.R. |
2 669th 43-22381 2A-Q A-26B Lt Hayter, E.R. S/Sgt Dalton, A.A. |
3 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Veazey, C.W. |
4 669th 41-39338 2A-O A-26B Lt Sorrels, D.W. Lt Wills, P.W. S/Sgt Triber, H.I. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Dunn, F.G. Sgt Stein, L.C. |
6 669th 41-39328 2A-U A-26B Lt Haskell, R.W. Sgt Lea, E.W. |
1 671st 43-22499 5C-G A-26C Lt Buskirk, J.A. Lt Hanna, R.C. S/Sgt Corbitt, C.H., Jr. |
2 671st 43-22326 5C-W A-26B Lt Hlivko, A.E. Sgt Graub, R.E. |
3 671st 41-39360 5C-L A-26B Lt Gary, J.C. Cpl Schoen, A.E., Jr. |
4 671st 43-22313 5C-B A-26B Lt Remiszewski, A. S/Sgt Miguez, J.H. |
5 671st 41-39209 5C-M A-26B Capt Moore, Z.R. S/Sgt Davis, H.R. |
6 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. Sgt Miller, A.H. S/Sgt Jordan, D.W. |
1 671st 43-22498 5C-R A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. Sgt Schwartzapel, D. |
2 671st 43-22352 5C-J A-26B Lt Spires, J.W. Sgt Davis, L.E. |
3 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. Sgt Davis, W.G., Jr. |
4 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Capt Hixon, S.M. S/Sgt Hinson, A.H. |
5 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. S/Sgt Chest, D. |
6 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Edstrom, L.W. Sgt Pompa, P.A. |
1 669th 43-22304 2A-T A-26C Lt Turner, D.O., Jr. Lt McGivern, P.J. S/Sgt Reyes, M.R. |
2 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Smith, D.E. S/Sgt Kirik, S.J. |
3 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. Capt Shapard, J.M. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 248 -- March 22, 1945, Thursday PM
Borken, Germany -- Built Up Area
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Going back after the same town in the afternoon, smoke from the morning's bombing almost completely obscured the target. Unable to see the target on the first run, the formation dropped on Gee equipment on the second run. There was no flak. One gunner reported a single engine fighter plane approaching the formation form below at seven o'clock. Making a pass from one o'clock and firing tracers, it closed in to 800 yards. The gunner did not return his fire and made no claims. The P-47 escort steered the fighter away. Major Shaefer, Lts. Hand and Reeves, B&N, and Captain Stanley, F/O Blount and Lt. M.P. Schlefer, B&N, were the box leaders. Brigadier General Backus, commanding the 97th Combat Wing, rode as an observer with Major Shaefer.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Pages 238 - 239
Mission #248 - 22 March - PM - Berken Communication Center. Again. Major Shaefer, Lts. Hand and Reeves, BNs with Captain Stanley and F/O Blount and Lt. Schlefer, BNs led Boxes. Brigadier General Backus Commander of the 9th Bomber Wing, rode with Captain Shaefer as an observer. Flights were led by Lts. Buskirk and Hanna BN, - Captain Tutt with Lt. Orr BN. the target was still smoking from the morning raids making aiming difficult, so GEE equipment was used to drop the loads of incendiaries on the second run. An enemy fighter made a pass at the formation, firing tracers, with no results. No return fire was made from our gunners. Our P-47 escort turned the enemy away. No flak was received on this mission.
The Ninth Bomb Division handed out a release regarding recent bombing missions we ran. The release said:
Communications inside seventeen German towns north of the Ruhr had been battered out of usefullness and smoke still covered entire town areas late Thursday, after some 1400 separate attacks by Ninth Bombardment Divison Marauders, Invaders and Havocs. These attacks have been aimed at sealing off the entire road and rail system in the northern sector of the Rhine. Since the air offensive opened in mid-morning Wednesday, nearly 2700 tons of high explosives and incendiaries have been rained on main road junctions, supply depot and other military installations, in the key German towns. Located in a 50 mile arc running mid-way between Munster and the Rhine, each town is a key in the enemy's chain of communications north of the Ruhr. Object of the current program is to cut off all road and rail facilities leading east from the northern sector of the Rhine, thereby sealing off the battle area north the Ruhr Valley.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were flown again on the 22nd of the month. In the morning, the built up area of Borken was attacked. Lt. Mulgrew, flying with Lt. Jordan, bombed with unsatisfactory results. A malfunction in the release system was responsible. However, the results of Flight Officer Cardinale's bombing were believed to have been very good. A number of hits were seen in the town. Capt. Dufault was the pilot of the aircraft.
The second mission of the day was flown against the same target area. Smoke and haze obscured the target, which necessitated the use of "gee" equipment for bombing. Lt. Blomgren and Lt. Johnson led the second flight of the second box, while Lts. Turner and McGivern led the second flight of the third box.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
March 22nd, 1945
The all out pounding to soften up the Munster area, north of the Ruhr continued on March 22nd, 1945 with the whole Ninth Bombardment Division concentrating its blows on communications centers in this area. The 416th Group went out twice to hit the town of Berken and returned without loss, although Lt. "Fearless" Fero crash landed his ship at Venlo, near the German border, on the morning mission.
In the morning, eight flights attacked the town with fair to superior results. Major Dunn and Lt. Brewer, leading the formation, scored an excellent with hits on buildings and roads. Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns misidentified the primary due to smoke and hit the nearby town of Sudlohn with excellent results. Counting the quarters assessed for leads, this was Major DunnÆs 65th mission, but the Major does not plan to quit. Leading formations for well over a year and scoring just about the best bombing records in the Group, Major Dunn surely deserves a trip to the States, but as he puts it: "With the was still on, I might as well stick it out".
Lt. Fero had a harrowing experience on this mission. He received several hits in the left engine coming in to the target. At the same time his right engine began to leak oil. He salvoed his bombs close to the target and headed for friendly territory. He had all he could do to keep the plane in the air and finally spotted the airfield at Venlo. After dropping his bombs his bomb-bay doors would not close so he had to pump them up by hand. He racked it back and dropped the plane in on an open field just beyond the airstrip. Making a brilliant crash-landing, neither he nor his gunner, S/Sgt.Rojas, were injured.
When the formation returned to the same target in the afternoon with incendiaries, the crews found the area covered with smoke and haze, and had to bomb on Gee with undetermined results. No flak was encountered and all crews returned safely.
The tactical significance of these recent operations was given in a 9th Bomb Division release, which follows:
Communications inside seventeen German towns north of the Ruhr had been battered out of usefulness and smoke still covered the entire town areas late Thursday, after some 1400 separate attacks by Ninth Bombardment Division Marauders, Invaders and Havocs. These attacks have been aimed at sealing off the entire road and rail system in the northern sector of the Rhine.
Since the air offensive opened in mid-morning Wednesday, nearly 2700 tons of high explosives and incendiaries have been rained on main road junctions, supply depots and other military installations, in the key German towns.
Located in a 50-mile arc running mid-way between Munster and the Rhine, each town is a key in the enemyÆs chain of communications north of the Ruhr.
Object of the current program is to cut off all road and rail facilities leading east from the northern sector of the Rhine, thereby sealing off the battle area north of the Ruhr Valley.
[March 22, 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 22, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |