416th Bombardment Group (L) Mission # 262 -- April 8, 1945, Sunday AM Munchen-Bernsdorf, Germany Railroad Siding And Oil Storage Tanks
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Place of Take-Off : A-69 Laon/Athies, France A/C Dispatched : 44 Total -- 44 A-26's Modified British System Reference: WJ-940541 Secondary Target : Possneck (G.S.G.S. No. 4416 S-6) Summary of Results : Primary target results - All flights Undertermined except Flight 3, Box 2 - Excellent. Some a/c attacked casual target (J-641527) with Unknown results. Primary Target Latitude/Longitude: 50.81296,11.91305 (50° 48' 47" N, 11° 54' 47" E) (Latitude/Longitude based on The "Coordinates Translator", (NGZ) wJ940541) (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 # 262 -- April 8, 1945, Sunday AM
Munchen-Bernsdorf, Germany -- Railroad Siding And Oil Storage Tanks
1 670th 43-22528 F6-T A-26C Maj Ferris, C.H. Lt Royalty, P.G. Lt McNutt, M.C. S/Sgt Rio, D.J. |
2 670th 41-39564 F6-V A-26B Lt Chitty, W.D., Jr. Sgt Raccio, V.B. |
3 670th 41-39286 F6-D A-26B Lt Henson, A.G. Cpl Homler, R.K. |
4 670th 41-39232 F6-N A-26B Lt Turner, E.O. S/Sgt Belcas, J.O. |
5 670th 43-22334 F6-G A-26B Lt Stankowski, J.F. Sgt Vellinga, J.R. |
6 670th 41-39315 F6-F A-26B Lt Curtis, J.C. Sgt Mathews, J.M. |
1 668th 43-22508 5H-Z A-26C Capt Stanley, C.S. F/O Blount, J.H., Jr. S/Sgt Collier, C.B. |
2 668th 41-39310 5H-A A-26B Lt Cannon, L.E. S/Sgt Gandy, R.S. |
3 668th 41-39325 5H-L A-26B Lt Hale, W.L. S/Sgt Bentzler, D.H. |
4 668th 43-22321 5H-T A-26B Lt Colquitt, J.K. S/Sgt Mohr, C.M. |
5 668th 41-39274 5H-S A-26B Lt Prucha, L.J. T/Sgt Wilson, G.C. |
6 668th 41-39352 5H-J A-26B Lt Lackner, R.J., Jr. Sgt Fidler, W.H. |
1 668th 43-22484 5H-C A-26C Lt Parker, P.E. Lt Shaft, R.E. S/Sgt Kochan, S.J. |
2 668th 43-22640 5H-N A-26C Lt Laseter, W.H. Lt Schlefer, M.P. Sgt Cross, R.M. |
3 668th 41-39188 5H-R A-26B Lt McCready, T.D. S/Sgt Lemonds, W.E. |
4 668th 41-39305 5H-U A-26B Lt Harris, F.W. S/Sgt Fuehrer, W.F. |
5 668th 41-39264 5H-I A-26B Lt Evarts, A.V. Sgt Fagan, C.D. |
6 668th 41-39233 5H-F A-26B Lt Drum, E.B. S/Sgt Hindman, R.G. |
SPARE 669th 41-39263 2A-G A-26B Lt Hackley, R.H. S/Sgt Basford, F.P. |
CAMERA 670th 41-39398 F6-Q A-26B Lt Singletary, R.B. S/Sgt Wiggins, H.G. W/O Scheuerman, C.B. S/Sgt Snider, S.J. [Scheuerman, Snider (4th CCU)] |
1 670th 43-22501 F6-W A-26C Lt Brewster, F.S. Lt Dennis, L.W. F/O Conley, F.J. S/Sgt Clark, W.O. |
2 670th 43-22469 F6-A A-26C Lt Barausky, P.P. Lt Sheehan, W.E., Jr. S/Sgt Hall, M. |
3 670th 43-22330 F6-P A-26B Lt Musgrove, W. S/Sgt Burns, D.E. |
4 670th 41-39205 F6-M A-26B Lt Bishop, E.G. S/Sgt Harris, M.C. S/Sgt Richards, D.B. |
5 670th 41-39212 F6-K A-26B F/O Boerner, S.B., Jr. Cpl Showers, M.W. |
6 670th 41-39223 F6-B A-26B Lt Sheley, S.H. S/Sgt Paladino, D.V. |
1 671st 43-22497 5C-E A-26C Lt Lackovich, J.J. Lt Muir, R.C. Cpl Barry, R.M. |
2 669th 43-22492 2A-E A-26C Lt Fero, D.A. F/O Langsam, R.L. S/Sgt Skelton, T.W. |
3 671st 41-39249 5C-F A-26B Lt Winn, A.J.P. S/Sgt Stephenson, G.G. |
4 671st 41-39239 5C-N A-26B Capt Sears, A.C. F/O Przywitowski, S.J. M/Sgt Wells, J.J. |
5 671st 41-39300 5C-K A-26B Lt Graeber, T.E. Sgt Miller, A.H. |
6 671st 41-39297 5C-T A-26B Lt Wright, J.R. Sgt Simon, D.O. |
1 669th 43-22609 2A-N A-26C Lt Jordan, C.S. Lt Mulgrew, R.P. Lt Moore, D.L. S/Sgt Brinkman, E.R. |
2 669th 41-39244 2A-I A-26B Lt VanRope, R.W. S/Sgt Klingman, W.H. |
3 669th 41-39314 2A-H A-26B Lt Weinert, C.E. Sgt Francis, R.D. |
4 669th 41-39252 2A-D A-26B Lt Allen, J.F., Jr. S/Sgt Getgen, L.R. |
5 669th 41-39271 2A-R A-26B Lt Harper, R.B. Sgt Black, R.M. Sgt Heenan, D.K. |
6 669th 41-39362 2A-Y A-26B Lt Housley, C.H. Sgt Block, P.J. S/Sgt Kruger, C.J. [Returned Early Engine Cutting Out] |
SPARE 669th 41-39229 2A-B A-26B Lt Smith, B.A. Sgt Richards, D.A. |
1 671st 43-22499 5C-G A-26C Capt Tutt, R.J. Lt Orr, L.A. Sgt Schwartzapel, D. |
2 671st 43-22356 5C-C A-26B Lt Milhorn, G.L. Sgt Chest, D. |
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 Withington, D.L., III S/Sgt Eaton, A.B. |
5 671st 41-39328 5C-D A-26B Lt Price, D.L. Sgt Reicher, J.F. |
6 671st 41-39250 5C-A A-26B Lt Simpson, R.L. Sgt Stypenski, V.S. |
Group and Unit Histories
Mission # 262 -- April 8, 1945, Sunday AM
Munchen-Bernsdorf, Germany -- Railroad Siding And Oil Storage Tanks
"416th Bombardment Group (L) - Group History 1945"
Transcribed from USAF Archives
Principally because of the extreme distance of any suitable targets, the third mission of the month was not flown until the 8th, when 42 planes attacked the Munchen-Bersndorf railroad sidings and oil storage tanks. Crews reported violent explosions in the storage area and many hits on the railroad siding. Photo interpretation found three tanks destroyed, one large storage type building one-half destroyed, and two other storage buildings damaged. Craters blocked the roads in at least four places. There was no flak, but one plane suffered battle damage when a bomb dropped from another flight exploded prematurely under this plane. Due to the similarity of terrain and smoke, one flight misidentified the target and dropped 4 1/2 miles southwest of the target. The three boxes were led by Major Ferris with Lts Royalty and McNutt, B&N, Lt Brewster, Lt Dennis and F/O Conley, B&N, and Capt Tutt, Lt Orr B&N.
"Attack Bombers, We Need You! A History of the 416th Bomb Group"
Ralph Conte
Page 248
Mission #262 - 8 April - AM - Munchen-Bernsdorf Railroad sidings and oil storage tanks. Three boxes of a total of 42 planes created a very successful mission. Four different groups attacked this target in 20 minute intervals. When our crews got there, smoke and fire were the only thing to aim at and six of our crews did that with perfection. Violent explosions and fire balls rose as our bombs hit. A seventh flight of our group misidentified the target and dropped his bombs about five miles southwest of the primary target. Smoke could be seen for about 70 miles away from our primary target, indicating what the photo recon showed, that three storage tanks destroyed, large storage buildings destroyed and craters blocked four roads leading into the facility. Boxes were led by Major Ferris with Lts. Royalty and McNutt, BNs,-Lt. Brewster with Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley BNs, and Captain Tutt with Lt. Orr, BN. Lts. Lackovich and Orr BN,-Lt. Fero and F/O Langsam BN, - Captain Sears and F/O Przywitowski BN, led flights.
"669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
It was not until the eighth of the month that the next operation was run. On that day two missions were flown. The first of these missions attacked the Munchen-Bernsdorf Railroad Sidings and Oil Storage Tanks. Good weather permitted visual bombing runs to be made. Violent explosions were seen, by the crews, in the target area. Lt. Jordan, with Lts. Mulgrew and Moore, led the Third Flight of the Second Box of the formation.
"670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History"
Transcription from USAF Archives
Two missions were flown on 8 April 1945. The morning mission target Munchen Bernsdorf was led by Major Ferris, Lt. Royalty and Lt. McNutt with Lt. Brewster and Lt Dennis leading the second box. The results were unobserved due to smoke and flames caused by earlier bombing. This was the last mission for Lt Royalty as his tour was completed on this day. 12 aircraft of this squadron participated, which was maximum effort. 6 aircraft of this squadron took off in the afternoon mission against Sonderhausen and excellent results were determined.
"671st Bomb Squadron (L) Unit History"
Gordon Russell and Jim Kerns
April 8th, 1945
With their longest rest since the beginning of March behind them...four days, the 416th swung back into action on April 8th with two attacks against a communication and an oil storage plant. Both missions were run without loss, but smoke and haze proved to be just as bad as flak on the evening mission.
In the morning the Group hit the Munchen-Bernsdorf Oil Storage plant with very successful results. Due to heavy smoke covering the target area, the lead bombardiers in six of the seven flights estimated the DMPI and released. Violent explosions and fires resulted. Some bombs covered roads in the area, but most of the 150 GPs fell into smoke. The seventh flight misidentified the target and bombed about five miles southwest of the primary. Four groups attacked this target at 20-minute intervals starting at 9A.M. Smoke could be seen 70 miles from the target after the bombing. It is evident that the Germans suffered a complete loss of this vital storage plant. The target was located 40 miles southeast of Leipzig.
The target in the afternoon was the town of Sonderahausen. It was reported by ground forces to be a center of resistance to elements of the First
U.S.Army, fighting in the vicinity of Mulhausen. Its destruction would hamper communications in the area and would probably destroy supplies and personnel in the town. Taking off in late afternoon the formation found the target covered by haze and smoke, caused by previous bombings. Lt. Brown and Lt. Kerns were leading the first box and Lt. Buskirk and Lt.Hanna the second. Lt. Kerns led the formation to the I.P., but his Gee Box went out and he was unable to pick out the target at that time. The rest of the flights went on to the target and dropped from 4900 to 9500 feet. Almost all of the bombs fell into the city with devastating results. Lt. Kerns finally got his Gee set to function after about an hour of circling over Germany. The smoke and haze had cleared by then and he dropped his bombs with excellent results on the town. Lt. Hanna could not get a rating as the bombs fell into smoke and no bursts were visible. Of the six flights dispatched, four received an excellent rating on bombing. The crews in Lt. Brown's flight logged upward to five hours. Luckily flak was not encountered.
[April 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, April 8, 1945 World War II Military Situation Maps Collection Library of Congress |