CHAPTER XX – BEGINNING OF THE END, APRIL 1945

(A) Narrative History

The story of the Group for the month of April carries several items of interest. Outstanding among them is the change of command. As has been stated elsewhere in this History, it was Mission No. 196, 19 March 1945, when the Group attacked Muhldorf Marshalling Yard, Germany, that Colonel Lawhon completed his thirty five sorties; but it was not until 15 April 1945 on the Operation Buckland to the Bologna Area, Italy, that the Colonel flew his last combat mission with the Group. During the days immediately following his last combat mission of 19 March 1945, he visited Headquarters of both the 49^th Wing and the Fifteenth Air Force for the purpose of completing matters pertaining to his command and preparing for his next assignment. During his assignment with the 461^st Group, Colonel Lawhon had served as Group Operations Officer from 8 September to 21 September 1944, as Deputy Group Commander from 22 September to 20 December 1944, and as Group Commander from 21 December 1944 to 16 April 1945.(1)

On 16 April, Colonel Craven C. Rogers, who had been the Deputy Group Commander since 30 March 1945, assumed command of the Group. Lt. Colonel Charles E. Gregory arrived on 16 April and was designated the Deputy Group Commander the same day.(2)

Something new and different was added to the Group in April. Pursuant to the terms of General Orders No. 15, 23 April 1945, Headquarters 461^st Bombardment Group (H), the Headquarters Detachment of the 461^st Bombardment Group was created. It was organized in compliance with letter, Headquarters Fifteenth Air Force, file No. 320, subject “Group Headquarters Detachment,” dated 26 March 1945 and made effective 30 April 1945. Captain Raymond L. Wilcovitz, formerly Adjutant in the 767^th Squadron, was designated as Headquarters Detachment Commanding Officer.

The following positions were created to attend to the necessary administrative duties:

Commanding Officer – Raymond L. Wilcovitz, Captain, Air Corps

First Sergeant (Acting) – T Sgt. Lester V. Neuberg

Sergeant Major (Acting) – S Sgt. Frederick F. Ferguson

Duty Non-Commissioned Officer – Sgt. James G. Parvin

Supply Non-Commissioned Officer – (To be announced)

Headquarters Detachment has the responsibility for initiating and maintaining such necessary records as are required of the orderly room.

The Orderly Room of this detachment was set up in what was formerly the schoolroom for Gunnery and Turret Training, and active operation began on or about 15 April 1945, at which time the Headquarters Detachment began to take over its various duties from Headquarters of the 461^st Bombardment Group. The transition was completed prior to 30 April 1945 and since that time the Headquarters Detachment has functioned as a unit separate from Group Headquarters.

Members of the Group tried to keep their impatience, caused by the approaching end of the war, partially under control by closely following the advance of the Allied Armies in Germany and Italy. The Italian drive was of especial interest to the Group personnel, ground and air echelon alike, because they had helped prepare for the missions or had participated in missions flown in support of the Fifth and Eighth Army fronts early in the month. The advance of the Russians in Austria brought about the capture or elimination of many of the Fifteenth Air Force targets and helped create an additional interest in the war situation.

April 2^nd marked the completion of one year of actual combat. As has been stated elsewhere, it was on 2 April 1944 that the Group flew its first combat mission.(3) On the evening of April 4, the Headquarters officers celebrated the anniversary with a party held in the Headquarters Officers’ Club. Among the guests were the 49^th Wing Commander, Brigadier General William L. Lee; the 49^th Wing Operations Officer, Colonel R.P. Todd; the 464^th Group Commander, Colonel A.J. Bird, Jr.; the 456^th Group Commander, Colonel T.W. Steed; the 451^st Group Commander, Colonel L.L. Stefanowicz; and approximately twenty nurses and WAC’s from the General Hospital in Naples and the WAC Detachment in Caserta.

April marked the publication of the Group’s first newspaper. The first year of operation souvenir edition of “Liberaider” was published by the Group. Sgt. Charles E. Dynes, Sgt. Geoffrey L. Peters of the Group Public Relations Section and Sgt. Donald R. Paine of the Group Special Services Office spent eight days in Rome preparing the newspaper for publication.

President Roosevelt’s sudden death on 12 April 1945 came as a profound shock to the members of the Group. The first news came over the radio late on the evening of 12 April. The flag was lowered to half-mast on the following morning, 13 April, and continued to be at half-mast throughout the month. Memorial services for the President were held in the Squadrons on Sunday morning, 15 April.

(B) Operations

The Group flew a total of 18 combat missions during the month of April. Combat airplanes logged a total of 4113 combat hours. Of the 648 planes airborne, 624 were over briefed targets. The average number of aircraft on each mission was 36.0. Of the 1422 tons of bombs airborne, 1244 were dropped on targets.

Bombing accuracy during the month was very good. The lowest percentage was 36.1 on Mission No. 215 of 15 April, and the highest was 95.5 on Mission No. 208 of 6 April. The Group ranked sixth in the Air Force in bombing accuracy with an average score of 68.9 per cent. As compared to the standings in March, when the Group ranked thirteenth in the Air Force, this was remarkable improvement.

In the last few months of operations an interesting innovation came into the picture. Air Force gave the Group more of a free hand in picking out Mean Point of Impact which definitely led to improved bombing. By a close study of bombing over a period of training and actual combat, the Group bombardier was qualified to determine what type of check points could be more easily identified by the individual bombardiers. Working on this basis a definite improvement in bombing accuracy was noted.

Airplane losses during the month were very light. Only two airplanes were lost on combat missions – both of them to flak. Enemy fighters were seen on several occasions, but only one encounter took place when a FW-190 made a pass at one of the planes in a formation. Flak damage was comparatively light except on the mission to Linz, Austria, on 25 April when intense, accurate, and heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. On that day eleven aircraft were damaged and one aircraft was lost over the target. Also on the 25^th of April, Lt. Demmond made a wheels-up crash landing on the runway after losing a part of the main landing gear near the field.

Although the number of missions flown during April compares favorably with the average number of missions flown in months past, the total number could have been appreciably greater but for the erratic weather and the swiftly vanishing bomb line. Several missions had to be cancelled because of fickle weather over the Alps. On two or three occasions an entire formation was forced to turn back when a weather front stood between it and the target. More and more the Group was ordered to do tactical bombing in Italy because of the fluid situation in Austria and the ever-diminishing bomb line which often changed hourly. As the Russian armies moved far past Vienna into Austria and the Seventh and Third American Armies penetrated deeper into Southern Germany, whole operational areas were wiped out; and such formidable targets as Vienna, Regensburg, Augsburg, and Munich were no more. From this it was fast becoming evident that the Fifteenth Air Force had become a tactical air force, and as Lt. General Carl A. Spaatz affirmed later in the month at a press conference in Rome, the job of the strategic air forces in Europe was done.

During the last few days of the month, rumors had the Group flying supply missions. Of course such incidents as the arrival of drop racks and supply canisters along with Captain T. Trevor Williams, an English officer from Allied Forces Headquarters, gave grounds for these rumors. April saw no supply missions despite this.

CREWS

A total of twenty-one crews were received during the month of April.

Paragraph 1 of Group Special Orders No. 64, dated 4 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC VOCG, 15AF, 3 Apr 45 fol named pers are further asgd to sqs as indicated”:

764^th Squadron

2nd Lt. Warren E. Inskeep and crew

2^nd Lt. J. Herbert Beson and crew

2^nd Lt. J. Wilbur M. McGoey and crew

765^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. J. William O. Cunningham, Jr. and crew

767^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. Martin G. Mertz and crew

2^nd Lt. J. Guion L. Phillips and crew

Paragraph 6 of Group Special Orders No 66, dated 7 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this GP VOCG 15AF, 8 Apr 45, fol pers are further asgd to Sqs as indicated.”

766^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. Carl H. Ledendecker and crew

765^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. Daniel J. Silvis, Jr. and crew

Paragraph 2 of Group Special Orders No 67, dated 9 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC VOCG 15AF, 8 Apr 45, fol named pers are further asgd to Sqs as indicated.”

764^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. Julius M. Batenic and crew

766^th Squadron

2^nd Lt. Thomas J. Pearce, Jr. and crew

Paragraph 6 of Group Special Orders No 73, dated 17 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC Par 6 SO 90 Hq 47^th Bomb Wg dtd 16 Apr 45, fol named pers are further asgd to Sqs as indicated.”

767^th Squadron

1^st Lt. Joseph A. Ballinger and crew

1^st Lt. William F. Austin and crew

1^st Lt. Stanley E. Caswell and crew

766^th Squadron

1^st Lt. Roy A. Hatem and crew

765^th Squadron

1^st Lt. Edward C. Demmond and crew

Capt. Fenton H. Butler and crew

Paragraph 7 of Group Special Orders No 73, dated 17 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC Par 1 SO 90 Hq 47^th Bomb Wg dtd 16 Apr 45, fol named pers are further asgd to Sqs as indicated.”

764^th Squadron

1^st Lt. Edgar B. Olson and crew

765^th Squadron

1^st Lt. William M. Holly and crew

767^th Squadron

1^st Lt. John P. Hutton and crew

Paragraph 7 of Group Special Orders No 74, dated 18 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC Par 4, SO 90 Hq 47^th Bomb Wg dtd 16 Apr 45, fol named pers are further asgd to 764^th Bomb Sq and are placed on DS to 885^th Bomb Sq (H).”

1^st Lt. Allen L. Gilley, Jr. and crew

Paragraph 10 of Group Special Orders No 74, dated 18 April 1945, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC Par 6, SO 90 Hq 47^th Bomb Wg dtd 16 Apr 45, fol named pers are further asgd to 765^th Bomb Sq.”

1^st Lt. Richard F. Teiland and crew

MISSIONS

Mission No. 206, 1 April 1945 – Bruck Marshalling Yard, Austria

On the first day of the month a force of twenty-seven planes, led by Major Rider, was dispatched to attack the marshalling yard at Bruck, Austria. Getting off to what appeared to be a promising start, the formation crossed the Adriatic in fair enough weather. Over Yugoslavia, however, the weather grew worse with cirrus building up to a ten-tenths layer of clouds extending from 16,000 to above 23,000 feet. A roundabout route as far east as Lake Balaton in Hungary, in an effort to find a passage through the wall of clouds, proved unsuccessful, and the formation having no other alternative returned to Base with its cargo of bombs. No mission credit was allowed.

Mission No. 206, 2 April 1945 – St. Polten Marshalling Yard, Austria

As part of the overall plan of impeding enemy troop movements in the Vienna Area, the Group was directed on 2 April 1945 to attack the marshalling yard at St. Polten, Austria. Under ideal weather conditions and in the absence of both flak and enemy fighters, the Group formation led by Major Baker achieved excellent results. Photographs show that a heavy concentration of bombs fell across the center of the St. Polten marshalling yard, scoring innumerable hits on tracks and rolling stock; another concentration fell on the west choke point, with at least seven direct hits cutting the line to Linz. Air Force plotted 79.3 per cent of bombs dropped within 1000 feet of the briefed aiming point.

Message of Commendation

SUBJECT:

FROM:

TO:

Commendation (Teletype)

Fifteenth Air Force, A311

Commanding Officer, 461^st Bombardment Group (H).

The following message (15AF A311) is forwarded with my congratulations.

“Bombing trike photographs of your attack on St. Polten Marshalling Yard on April 2 show excellent bombing patterns by squadrons of the Groups, and post raid reconnaissance reveals terrific destruction created. Please convey to the Groups my commendation for a job well done.”

COL TODD

Mission No. 207, 3 April 1945 – Bolzano Marshalling Yard, Italy (Canceled)

Mission No. 207, 4 April 1945 – Bronzolo Marshalling Yard, Italy (Canceled)

Mission No. 207, 5 April 1945 - Brescia Marshalling Yard, Italy

Aerial reconnaissance of the Fifteenth Air Force confirmed intelligence reports that the Germans were attempting to move masses of military equipment and Italian machinery out of Italy by way of the Milan to Verona railway line. For this reason Brescia, accommodating upwards of 1,000 railway cars and considered a critical link in the line, was designated the target for the day. A force of twenty-eight planes, commanded by Major Rider, attacked the target in ideal weather with good results. Air Force scored the mission at 90.0 per cent. The bomb pattern was rectangular and well concentrated over the width and length of the marshalling yard. There was no opposition from either flak or fighters.

Mission No. 208, 6 April 1945 – Brescia/Breda Small Arms Works, Italy

The Group returned to Brescia, this time to bomb the Breda Arms Factory reported to be manufacturing shell cases for the Germans. A force of twenty seven planes, led by Major Thackston, dropped a heavy concentration of bombs directly on the target, gutting about three fourths of the factory buildings and installations. The mission was scored at 95.5 per cent, which turned out to be the highest score obtained in April. There was no interference from flak or fighters.

Mission No. 209, 7 April 1945 - Vipiteno Railroad Bridge, Italy

Unpredictable weather over the Alps prevented the Group formation from reaching its objective, the railroad bridge at Vipiteno, Italy. After fighting strong head winds and ten-tenths cumulus all the way from Fiume to a point just south of Villach, Major Trommershausser, the formation leader, conceded victory to the elements and the had the formation return to base. The Group received no credit for this mission.

Mission No. 209, 8 April 1945 - Gorizia Marshalling Yard, Italy

The field order for this day directed the Group to attack the marshalling yard at Bronzolo in northern Italy. Bad weather still prevailed and after an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate it in the area of Florence, the Group formation leader, Major Trommershausser, selected the marshalling yard at Gorizia as an alternate target. At Gorizia the weather proved no handicap, for the bombing was done visually and with excellent results. Bomb strike photographs revealed that 56.3% of the bombs found their mark within 1000 feet of the briefed aiming point, though the pattern was somewhat scattered. No flak came up to oppose the formation. The Luftwaffe made a feeble gesture when two ME109's dared show themselves in the area of Udine and did no more than observe the formation from long range.

Mission No. 210, 9 April 1945 - Troop Concentrations Northeast of Lugo, Italy

April 9th was D-Day on the Italian front. In preparation for this day along towards the latter part of March, the Group Command staff were called to a conference at 49th Wing Headquarters, where they were told that a spring offensive on the Italian front was in the offing. Plans were drawn up and every phase of Operation Buckland, as it was called, was discussed.

Upon their return from the conference, the Group command staff began to make intensive preparations. In the days following, flight navigators and bombardiers held frequent meetings behind closed doors with Colonel Rogers, Major Rider, Major Murphy, Captain Toth, and Lt. Goodfriend. A number of navigators and bombardiers were flown to northern Italy to the scene of future operations, where they studied the surrounding terrain.

Operation Buckland was designed to extend over several days and presented many difficulties. There could be no mistakes because thousands of lives depended on the outcome of the operation. The area to be bombed -- troop concentrations and gun emplacements in the vicinity of Lugo and most o the Santorno River -- was devoid of prominent landmarks, thereby putting a high priority on skillful and accurate navigation. Bombing was to be over a wide area and therefore had to be perfect. Moreover, the job called for precision timing because the entire Air Force had to pass over the target within the space of an hour and a half.

The Group formation of forty-one planes comprising two forces -- the Red Force led by Colonel Rogers, and the Blue Force led by Major Rider -- took to the air at 1200 hours. In the target area the Red Force encountered no difficulty: ground markers were clearly visible, radio navigational aids worked perfectly, the target was identified and bombed as planned. The Blue Force following closely on the Red Force, however, ran into unexpected interference on the bomb run. Another formation came underneath them at bombs release point and Major Rider, choosing the only possible alternative, ordered the bombardiers to refrain from bombing. By then the hour was very near to being 1520, the time when all bombing was to cease, and it was considered too dangerous to attempt a second run on the target. As a result of this the Blue Force did not bomb but returned its bombs to Base.

Contrary to expectations, enemy resistance at the target was surprisingly slight. Anti-aircraft fire was encountered but was described as slight, inaccurate, heavy, and generally ineffective. The Luftwaffe was conspicuously absent. Consequently not a single plane was damaged.

Strike photographs of the bombing by Red Force show that the aiming point was well covered though the pattern did not extend as far as was intended.

Mission No. 211, 10 April 1945 - Troop Concentrations Northeast of Lugo, Italy

Operation Buckland, in support of the Eighth Army, was continued on 10 April. The Group sent a double force, led by Colonel Rogers and Major Rider, against troop concentrations and gun emplacements in the vicinity of Lugo, Italy. The whole operation was executed as planned. A total of eighty tons of fragmentation bombs was dropped on target with excellent results. Photographs show that the assigned target area was well saturated and that the heavier concentrations fell directly on the aiming points. Enemy anti-aircraft fire was described as slight and inaccurate. Three FW-190s were see scavenging in the target area.

Fifteenth Air Force

Office of the Commanding General

A.F.C. 520

201.22

12 April 1945

SUBJECT:

TO:

Commendation

Commanding Officer, 461^st Bombardment Group (H).

1. The following cables have been sent from the Commanding General, Eighth Army and the Commanding General, Fifteenth Army Group, respectively, To the Commander-in-Chief, MAAP, who has passed same to this headquarters with his congratulations and appreciation.

"Much appreciated is the wholehearted support of the Fifteenth Air Force on 9 and 10 April. The carpet bombing in front of our assaulting divisions, I am convinced, has been one of the decisive factors in our rapid advance to the Santorno River. The degree of success attained shows how enthusiastically all personnel tackled those close support missions. I fully realize the special and intensive training that this task demanded of all bombing crews."

"I want you to know how fully I appreciate the splendid and effective air support which the air forces have already given us in the current attack. The excellent cooperation we have received from all air force personnel starting with the early planning phase has been a source of special gratification. I am confident of your all-out support in the future. Our Air-ground team is not a great success."

2. I am particularly gratified to pass these well-earned commendations to all units of the command and to add my own praise for an outstanding demonstration of successful coordinated effort between air and ground forces.

/s/ N. F. Twining

Major General, USA

Commanding

Mission No. 212, 11 April 1945 - Bronsolo Marshalling Yard, Italy

The attack on the Bronsolo Marshalling Yard, south of Bolsano, was designed to cripple further the enemy's escape routes and to deny him the opportunity of withdrawal into the Alps. Major Thackston led the Group formation of twenty-seven planes on this mission. Against moderate flak the Group achieved excellent results -- 54.7 per cent of the bombs dropped were plotted within 1,000 feet of the briefed aiming point. A concentrated pattern of bombs fell on the south choke point and north half of the marshalling yard, cutting through lines and destroying an unestimated number of railroad cars.

The plane piloted by 2nd. Lt. Robert Caran was hit by flak at the target and did not return. When this aircraft was last seen, five crew members had bailed out.

Mission No. 213, 12 April 1945 - St. Veit Railroad Bridge, Austria

In pursuance of the Air Force policy of interdicting all enemy escape routes, the Group was directed to bomb a small railroad bridge at St. Veit in Austria. Major Poole led the Group formation of twenty-eight planes to the target and to a superior mission. Despite a three-tenths undercast, which interfered with visibility at the target, the bombing was exceptionally good. Seventy per cent of the 1000-pound RDX bombs dropped were plotted within 1,000 feet of the briefed aiming point. The south approach to the bridge was particularly well hit.

Mission No. 214, 13 April 1945 - Plattling Marshalling Yard, Germany (Canceled)

Mission No. 214, 14 April 1945 - Malcontenta Ammunition Factory, Italy

The operations order for this day called for a normal effort against the Malcontenta Ammunition Factory, located seven miles due west of Venice. Major Thackston led the Group formation of four boxes. Owing to a nine-tenths undercast in the target area, only one box was able to identify the target and drop its bombs. The other three boxes after making several passes at the target abandoned it and returned bombs to Base. The mission was scored at 67.4 per cent. Anti-aircraft fire at the target was slight and inaccurate.

Mission No. 215, 15 April 1945 - German Troop Concentrations in Bologna Area, Italy

The second phase of Operation Buckland, this time in support of the Fifth Army, began on 15 April and aimed at disorganization of the enemy's day, the Red Force, led by Colonel Rogers, had for its objective enemy troop concentrations and gun emplacements located approximately a fourth of a mile north of the junction of Reno and Sette Rivers. En route to the target the plane piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank M. Brown, Jr., lost two of its engines and the crew were forced to bail out in the area of Florence. The rest of the force of thirty-eight planes got through to the target without incident. Using 250-pound general-purpose bombs, the Group unloaded its cargo of eighty tons directly on the target leveling the installations. There was no opposition at the target in the way of flak or enemy fighters.

Mission No. 215, 15 April 1945 - Nervessa Railroad Bridge Diversion, Italy

Blue Force, which was led by Major Baker, bombed the Nervessa Railroad Bridge in Northern Italy. Unfavorable weather at the target prevented one box of six planes from bombing. The other twelve planes, however, did bomb with satisfactory results for a score of 36.1 per cent. The pattern was none too good; the major concentration of bombs fell 800 feet short of the aiming point. Two planes were damaged at the target, though the flak was described as slight, inaccurate, and heavy.

Mission No. 216, 16 April 1945 - Troop Concentrations in Bolgna Area, Italy

The following day the Group again sent a large force to Bologna in support of the Fifth Army. Enemy troop concentrations were the objective, Major Trommershausser, who led the formation, upon finding the target effectively screened by eight-tenths cumulus at 10,000 feet, ordered the formation to return to Base with all its bombs. The Group did not take credit for a mission, through the Air Force allowed sortie credit.

Mission No. 216, 17 April 1945 - Troop Concentrations in Bolgna Area, Italy

This last mission to Bologna in support of the Fifth Army brought Operation Buckland to a close. Major Trommershausser led the formation of forty-two planes against German troop concentrations. Only thirty-five planes in this force were able to bomb. One box of six planes found the target obscured by smoke and had to abandon it after three unsuccessful attempts. Photos show that the bombing was good and the patter well concentrated. Photos show that the bombing was good and the pattern well concentrated. No enemy resistance from either flak or fighters was encountered.

Commendations

"I send my most hearty congratulations to your entire command for your record effort of 15 April in support of our ground forces. To your ground personnel particularly great credit is due for the near miracle of maintenance that allowed 1233 heavy bombers and 629 fighters to be dispatched on that day. Operational and Intelligence staffs were conceived, planned and directed the execution have every reason to be proud. And to the combat leaders and crews for a splendid day's work I extend my appreciation and commendation."

/s/ General Cannon

"I want you to know how deeply I appreciate the thoroughly effective support which the Air Forces under your command have already given to the 15Th Army Group in the current attack. Your excellent cooperation began with the planning phases of our operation and has continued in a manner which is most gratifying to all personnel in the 5th and 8th Armies which you are supporting."

/s/ General Clark

Order of the Day Number 2. "The advances of our ground forces have brought to a close the strategic air war waged by the United States Strategic Air Forces and the Royal Air Forces Bomber Command. It has been won with a decisiveness becoming increasingly evident as our armies overrun Germany. From now onward our strategic air forces must operate with our tactical air forces in close cooperation with our armies. All units of the United States Strategic Air Forces are commended for their part in winning the strategic air war and are enjoined to continue with undiminished effort and precision the final tactical phase of air action to secure the ultimate objective -- complete defeat of Germany."

/s/ General Spatz

Mission No. 217, 19 April 1945 - Avisio Viaduct and Railroad Diversion, Italy

The Avisio Viaduct, located approximately six miles north of Verona, is one of the vital links in the Bronner railway line. It was frequently visited by Groups of the Fifteenth Air Force and made inoperative on several occasions. Notwithstanding this, the enemy by the ingenious use of pre-fabricated spans was able to remedy the damage and continued to funnel traffic through the Bronner Pass at night. To make interdiction of all railway lines feeding into the Bronner absolute and complete, the Air Force assigned several Groups to destroy the Avision Viaduct. The 461st Group participated in this operation.

The field order called for a maximum effort of thirty-six aircraft; the Group supplied thirty-nine aircraft. Major Thackston led the Group formation. Haze partly obscured the target but good bombing results were obtained. The patter fell across the Viaduct and continued to a point one thousand feet west of the aiming point. Air Force scored the mission at 40.3 per cent.

Flak was moderate at the target but not very accurate for not a single plane sustained damage. The Luftwaffe was out in force. Both FW-190s and Me109s were soon in comparatively large numbers in the vicinity of Lake Garda. Enemy fighters, however, did not engage the Group formation.

Mission No. 218, 20 April 1945 - Lusia Road Bridge, Italy

Major Phillips led the successful mission of 20 April against the Lusia Bridge in Northern Italy. This bridge, one of the few left standing, spanned the Adigo River and was being used by the retreating Germans.

One thousand pound RDX bombs were dropped to obtain excellent results. Flak at target, described as slight, inaccurate, and heavy, damaged one plane; save that it interfered little with the accuracy of the bombing, for the mission was scored at 91.9 per cent. Direct hits were observed on abutments and approaches of the bridge, as well as the span itself. One lone No-262, pursued by two P-51s, was seen in the area of Bologna.

Mission No. 219, 21 April 1945 - Attnang/Puchiem Marshalling Yard, Austria

The briefed target for this mission was to be the marshalling yard at Brennere, Italy. En route, in the vicinity of Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, the formation encountered impassable weather and was forced to abandon the primary target in favor of alternate target No. 2, the marshalling yard at Attnang, Austria. Major Poole led the formation. Bombing through a three-tenths undercast, which necessitated as many as five passes at the target by some boxes, the Group nevertheless obtained good results. Air Force scored the mission at 61.1 per cent. The pattern began just short of the marshalling yard and carried well into it. Neither flak nor fighters were encountered.

Mission No. 220, 23 April 1945 - Badia Road Bridge, Italy

The Group formation, led by Major Trommershausser, gave a good account of itself in bombing the road bridge at Badia, Italy. In good weather but in face of heavy anti-aircraft fire that damaged nine planes, the formation unloaded its cargo of 1,000-pound general-purpose bombs directly on the bridge. At least twelve direct hits, or near misses, were scored on the span of the bridge. Of the bombs dropped, 85.8 per cent were counted within 1,000 feet of the briefed aiming point.

Commendation

"The results of the bombing of the Badia Road Bridge on 23 April 1945 are a source of great pride and satisfaction to me. The accuracy and precision displayed on this mission are indicative of the standards desired by every commander engaged in the final defeat of the enemy. My commendation to you for a job well done."

Brig. General Lee

Mission No. 221, 24 April 1945 - Rovereto Marshalling Yard and Gun Emplacements, Italy

Major Baker was in command of a force of thirty-seven planes that bombed the Rovereto Marshalling Yard in Northern Italy on 24 April 1945. The bomb load consisted of 500-pound RDX's; three aircraft, however, carried fragmentation bombs for the purpose of bombing gun emplacements at Rovereto. Results were good. The marshalling yard was effectively hit, but it was not possible to determine whether any of the gun emplacements were hit. One aircraft was damaged by the slight flak at the target.

Commendation

"I congratulate you and your personnel on the fine results obtained in the attack against the Rovereto Marshalling Yard on 24 April 1945. The determination and devotion to duty displayed on this attack are to be commended."

Brig. General Lee

Mission No. 222, 25 April 1945 - Linz Main Marshalling Yard, Austria

With the offensive in Italy progressing successfully, the Air Force suddenly turned to bombing in support of the Russian armies on the Southeastern front. The mission on 25 April 1945 was to Linz, Austria, with the Main Marshalling Yard as the primary target. Major Phillips led the mission with Lt. Colonel Gregory leading the second attack unit. In view of the extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire encountered, which damaged eleven of the twenty-six planes over target, the bombing was exceptionally good. Of the bombs dropped, 55 per cent were plotted within 1000 feet of the briefed aimed point.

The plane piloted by 2nd Lt. Lawrence R. Toothman was lost to flak over the target. The planed piloted by 1st Lt. Richard F. Reiland had a brief encounter with a FW-190 which opened fire at 600 yards. When the alert gunners fired back the Fock Wulf turned away and headed north to Germany.

Commendation

"The successful bombing of yesterday, 26 April 1945, by all Groups of this command was a fine display of leadership and aggressiveness. Your action in reaching targets through adverse weather that turned back many other units is deserving of commendation."

Brig. General Lee

Mission No. 223, 26 April 1945 - Lienz Marshalling Yard, Austria

The primary target for this mission was the Cortina Ammunition Stores in Italy. Bad weather in Northern Italy made identification of this small target impossible, and Colonel Rogers, leading the formation, decided on one of the alternate targets, the marshalling yard at Lienz, Austria. Because of the nine-tenths cloud coverage at Lienz, the formation had to let down to 12,000 feet in order to bomb visually. Bombing was done by boxes, some boxes making as many as three passes at the target. Two boxes dropped their bombs directly on the marshalling yard; the others were either short or over but on the whole results were very good. Air Force scored the mission at 64.6 per cent. There was no interference from flak or fighters.

Commendation

"Attacks against the enemy's vital communications center at Lienz yesterday show excellent results by the Forty-Ninth Wing. Bombing of the 451 and 461 Groups was particularly outstanding."

Brig. General Lee

MISSING IN ACTION

			Mission
Rank	Name	Home Town	Date	Target
2^nd Lt.	Robert Caran	Cleveland, Ohio	11/4/45	Bronzolo
1^st Lt.	Donald J. Rhodes	Berkeley, Mich.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
2^nd Lt.	Billy May	Montezuma, Ga.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
1^st Lt.	Robert E. Hearn	Millington, Tenn.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	Martin F. Comer	Birmingham, Ala.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	Alfred J. Cashman	Racine, Wis.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	Francis A. Schaules	Detroit, Mich.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	Albert H. Lewis	St. Louis, Mo.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	C.L. Robinson	Louisville, Ky.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
Sgt.	James B. Feyereisen	Marshall, Minn.	11/4/45	Bronzolo
2^nd Lt.	Lawrence R. Toothman	Mannington, W. Va.	25/4/45	Linz
2^nd Lt.	William Jones	Bronx, N.Y.	25/4/45	Linz
F/O	Paul R. Ashworth	Payson, Utah	25/4/45	Linz
S Sgt.	Roy J. Wieland	Alhambra, Calif.	25/4/45	Linz
S Sgt.	Oscar L. Scogin, Jr.	Slidell, La.	25/4/45	Linz
Cpl.	Robert C. Baker	Jamestown, N.Y.	25/4/45	Linz
Cpl.	John L. LaZier	Coal City, Ill.	25/4/45	Linz
Cpl.	Douglas A. Morrison	Gainsville, Ga.	25/4/45	Linz
Cpl.	Howard R. Acheson	Lowell, Mich.	25/4/45	Linz
Sgt.	Joseph H. Hoskins, Jr.	Old Hickory, Tenn.	25/4/45	Linz
S Sgt.	William L. Small	Andover, Mass.	25/4/45	Linz

KILLED IN ACTION

			Mission
Rank	Name	Home Town	Date	Target
Cpl.	Lionel W. Schultz	St. Louis, Mo.	15/4/45	Bologna

The enclosed photographs accompany this History for the month.

(D) Special Accounts

Promotions

Enlisted Men

MOS	Name	ASN	Grade
502	Stanley W. Fugett	35799087	Cpl. To Sgt
657	William Frank	36166152	Pvt to Pfc

Missing in Action Reports

(Prisoners of War)

Rank	Name	MIA Date	Target
Cpl.	Thomas F. Byers	16 December 1944	Brux
T Sgt.	Harry W. Dunham	16 December 1944	Brux
Cpl.	Paul T. Haggerty	16 December 1944	Brux
Cpl.	Thomas H. MacDonald	16 December 1944	Brux
T Sgt.	Jesse H. Palmer	16 December 1944	Odertal
Sgt.	Charles R. Clay	17 December 1944	Odertal
T Sgt.	Lawrence F. Dixon, Jr.	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	Harry D. Edmiston	17 December 1944	Odertal
Sgt.	Lawrence M. Eidsmore	17 December 1944	Odertal
Sgt.	Wilfred A. Engelke	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	V.L. Francisco, Jr.	17 December 1944	Odertal
1^st Lt.	Robert A. Galvan	17 December 1944	Odertal
S Sgt.	Urbain H. Granger	17 December 1944	Odertal
1^st Lt.	Jeff L. Hamilton, Jr.	17 December 1944	Odertal
F/O	Hugh H. Janley	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	Eldred H. Helton	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	Frank V. Hokr	17 December 1944	Odertal
Cpl.	Roger A. Koontz	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	Earl W. Kreps	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	William L. McLain, Jr.	17 December 1944	Odertal
2^nd Lt.	Howard E. Munson	17 December 1944	Odertal
Sgt.	Trefry A. Ross	17 December 1944	Odertal
Cpl.	Edgar A. Squires	17 December 1944	Odertal
1^st Lt.	Edward K. George	18 December 1944	Blechhammer
S Sgt.	John C. Kilgore	18 December 1944	Blechhammer
2^nd Lt.