(A) Narrative History
War Department Unit Citation. On 3 December, Brigadier General Charles F. Born, Deputy Commander of the Fifteenth Air Force, presented the 461st Bombardment Group with its second War Department Unit Citation. Due to the fact that this was the second Unit Citation to be received by the Group within a period of one month, the ceremonies may have lacked a little of the color which had marked the first presentation on 6 November 1944. Those who witnessed the ceremonies, however, felt that the participants gave fully as good an account of themselves as had been done for the first citation.
After General Born had returned to his Headquarters he wrote the following letter that was endorsed to the Group by Colonel William L. Lee, Commanding Officer of the 49th Bombardment Wing:
FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE
Office of the Commanding General
5 December 1944
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SUBJECT: |
Commendation. |
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THROUGH: |
Commanding General, 49th Bombardment Wing |
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TO: |
Commanding Officer, 461st Bombardment Group |
1. I viewed with a great deal of pride your citation ceremonies on 3 December 1944.
2. You, your officers, and men are to be commended for this excellent showing. In the stress of combat it is easy to forget other essentials that are necessary in our military life. The ceremonies presented by your Group showed that high degree of training, discipline, loyalty, and efficiency that is so necessary for successful combat. You and every member of your command may rightfully be proud of the magnificent achievements of your organization. By your leadership you have reflected great credit upon yourself and the armed forces.
3. This commendation will become part of your official record and will be attached to your next efficiency report.
/s/ Charles F. Born
Brigadier General, USA
Deputy Commander
HEADQUARTERS 49th BOMBARDMENT WING (H)
7 December 1944.
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TO: |
Commanding Officer, 461st Bomb Group (H) |
It gives me great pleasure to pass this commendation on to you with my congratulations and complete concurrence.
/s/ William L. Lee
Colonel, Air Corps,
Commanding.
The unit citation, which was awarded for a pathfinder attack on the Creditul-Minier Oil Refinery at Ploesti, Roumania on 15 July 1944, was approved by the Fifteenth Air Force on 26 October 1944 and by the Headquarters Army Air Forces of the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations on 22 November 1944.
HEADQUARTERS
FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE
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GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 4187 |
26 October 1944. |
SECTION I – CITATION OF UNIT
Under the provisions of Circular No. 333, War Department, 1943, and Circular No. 89, Headquarters NATOUSA, 10 July 1944, the following unit is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy:
461st BOMBARDMENT GROUP. For outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. Notified to prepare for a bombing mission against the Creditul-Minier Oil Refinery at Ploesti, Roumania, the Group underwent extensive training to enable it to overcome the enemy’s newest defensive weapon, an effective chemical smoke screen. Special Pathfinder crews trained rigorously for several weeks perfecting a new technique in non-visual, synchronous bombing, fully realizing that a successful accomplishment of this mission would reduce by 1,500,000 tons refinery capacity of the oil production and stores available to the Axis forces. Prior to the mission, ground crews worked tirelessly and determinedly to insure that their aircraft were in perfect mechanical condition for the operation. On 15 July 1944, thirty-nine (39) B-24 type aircraft were airborne and after assuming the lead of the wing formation encountered severe and adverse weather conditions, making it necessary for them to split up into flights and individual ships to get through. After successfully penetrating the first cloud coverage and reassembling, they again encountered adverse weather, and only through the superior skill of the navigators was the target reached. Approaching the objective, it was observed to be completely obscured by the effective smoke from previous bomber raids or adjacent refineries. Undaunted by these seemingly overwhelming handicaps, together with the heavy barrage of intense anti-aircraft fire over the target, displaying outstanding courage and determination, the gallant crews fought their way through the heavy enemy defenses. With full realization of the importance of the target and their responsibility in leading the entire formation unerringly to the objective, the Pathfinder operator and lead bombardier skillfully coordinated their instruments and dropped their bombs on the obscured target, enabling the formation to lay down a perfect pattern of hits which completely smothered the target area. Immediately after the bombs were released, a break in the clouds enabled a perfect view of the objective and the pattern of bomb strikes. There were one hundred and twenty-five (125) hits visible on the refinery, eighteen (18) in the tank car storage and approximately twenty-one (21) on the choke point of the adjacent marshalling yard. So intense was the flak over the target, that one ship was lost, another severely damaged and fifteen (15) slightly damaged with losses held to a minimum through skillful evasive action taken. By the conspicuous courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of the ground personnel, the 461st bombardment Group has reflected great credit upon itself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
By command of Major General TWINING:
Change of Command. In leading the Wing and Group formation in an attack on the Linz, Austria, Main Marshalling Yard on 15 December, Colonel Hawes completed his tour of duty. During the days immediately following this mission, he visited the Headquarters of both the 49th Wing and the Fifteenth Air Force in completing matters pertaining to his command and in preparation for his return to the United States. The evening of 20 December, accompanied in a command car by Major Joseph M. Donovan who had completed his tour of duty on 11 December, he left for Naples in anticipation of his return to the United States. During his assignment with the 461st Group, he had served as Deputy Group Commander from 3 November 1943 to 22 September 1944, and as Group Commander from 22 September 1944 to the day of his departure.
Upon the departure of Colonel Hawes, command of the Group was assumed by Lt. Colonel Brooks A. Lawhon who previously had been Colonel Hawes’ Deputy Commander. Lt. Colonel Otha B. Hardy, 764th Squadron Commander, was named the Deputy Group Commander. Captain Robert K. Baker, the Operations Officer of the 765th Squadron, became the Commanding Officer of that Squadron with 1st Lt. Leo F. Cooper as his Operations Officer.
Major Joseph N. Donovan was replaced as the 767th Squadron Commander by Captain Frank M. Poole.
Inspections. On 10 November Major L. Liddon, Technical Inspector from the Fifteenth Air Force Air Inspector’s Office, and his Assistant, Captain J. E. Worley, inspected the engineering and armament sections of the Group. The conclusion of their report of the inspections – “Overall rating for Group – Satisfactory”.
From 27 November through 2 December, an inspection team consisting of four officers and four enlisted men from Headquarters, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, United States Army, inspected the service records of the Group. This team was headed by Lt. Colonel W.S. Von Bermuth who had as his first assistant Lt. Colonel Barnett C. Wolin. The report of this inspection, which included officer set-up, supervision, and condition of service records, ranged all the way from “Unrated” to “Excellent”.
During the period from 14 to 17 December inclusive, the annual General Inspection was conducted. The inspection team was made up of four officers and four enlisted men with Lt. Colonel Ellis E. Eno as acting Inspector General. Lt. Colonel Eno’s report reads as follows:
HEADQUARTERS
49th BOMBARDMENT WING (H)
Office of the Air Inspector
19 December 1944
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SUBJECT: |
Report of Annual General Inspection, 461st Bomb Group (H). |
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TO: |
Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, (Thru Commanding Officer, 461ST Bomb Group (H), and Commanding General, 49th Bomb Wing (H)). |
I. AUTHORITY AND COMMAND INSPECTED
1. Under the provisions of Par. 3a, AR 20-10, 3 Sept. 1943, and pursuant to VOCG, Fifteenth Air Force, the annual general inspection (non-continuing type) of 461st Bomb Group (H) was made by Lieut. Colonel Ellis E. Eno, AC, (Acting Inspector General), assisted by personnel of the Air Inspector’s section of the 49th Bomb Wing, during the period of 14-17 December 1944. The units inspected, together with the general rating given each, are shown in Enclosure No. 1. This group has been commanded by Colonel Philip R. Hawes, 0-21220, AC, since 22 September 1944. Previous commander was Colonel Frederic E. Glantzberg, AC.
II.
ORGANIZATION
3. The Group and four Squadrons were activated 29 May 1943 per G.O. 78, Headquarters, Second Air Force, 19 May 1943. The Group operated under T/O and E1-112 and 1-117.
III.
IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES AND COMMENTS
4. Personnel, buildings and grounds, messes, warehousing, transportation, discipline, security, records, funds and all other matters covered by this inspection were found to be in a satisfactory condition or better.
5. Considerable ingenuity is evidenced by the improvised steam tables installed in the messes. These improvisions are excellent additions to the messes.
IV.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6. The general overall rating is: Satisfactory.
7. Recommendations where appropriate, appear in each action-letter I.G.D. (Editor: Not included here.)
/s/ ELLIS E. ENO
Lieut. Colonel, AC
Acting Inspector General
List of Units inspected during annual General Inspection, 461st Bomb Group (H).
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Organization |
Rating |
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461st BombGroup
(H), Headquarters |
Satisfactory |
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764th Bomb Squadron (H) |
Excellent |
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765th Bomb Squadron (H) |
Satisfactory |
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766th Bomb Squadron (H) |
Satisfactory |
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767th Bomb Squadron (H) |
Satisfactory |
On 21 December 1st Lt. Robert W. Ellis and one enlisted man conducted the 49th Wing Medical Administrative Inspection in the Group. His report mentioned no specific items for attention by the Group, but did contain specific recommendations for the squadrons.
The final inspection for the month of December was made on the 22nd by Major L.D. Yard and his assistants from the Communications Section of the Fifteenth Air Force. A complete inspection was made of all of the Group’s communications and radar installations. Final rating: “All phases – very satisfactory”.
Meeting Conducted by General William L. Lee. Following the submission, of the report of the Annual General Inspection of the Group by the Acting Inspector General, the 49th Wing Commander, Brigdier General William L. Lee, conducted a meeting with selected personnel of the Group in the Group briefing room on 21 December 1944. The personnel present consisted of headquarters officers and squadron commanders, executive officers and adjutants. The general purpose of the meeting seemed to be that of providing the General with an opportunity to discuss with the staff members of the Group some of the current problems of the Wing and of the Air Force.
Subjects mentioned by the General included: Need for aggressive action in combating the increased venereal rate; the necessity for reducing the number of delinquents; methods for solving the complicated problem of transportation; the method of distributing, and the need for accurate accounting of combat whiskey; the shortage of airplanes in the Air Force, and the desirability of building pride in an organization.
Following the General’s remarks, his Chief of Staff, Lt. Colonel Ellis E. Eno, discussed several items of army procedure that pertained primarily to the Adjutant’s Office. After Lt. Colonel Eno had finished his remarks, the Wing Assistant Adjutant, Major Frank E. Marek, discussed the mechanics and the proper techniques for making recommendations for decorations and awards.
Christmas. So far as the day itself was concerned, Christmas Day was little different from previous holidays such as Election Day, Armistice Day, and Thanksgiving Day had previously proven to be. Fundamentally, it was just another day of war. But nonetheless it was Christmas.
A few days before Christmas, arrangements were made to send a small delegation of officers and men of the Roman Catholic faith to Rome where they attended midnight Christmas Mass celebrated by the Pope. On Sunday, 24 December, Chaplain Rasmussen conducted a total of seven different services. On Christmas night the officers and men enjoyed their turkey in highly decorated mess halls. Perhaps the biggest boon to apparently every member of the command at Christmastime was the large number of overseas Christmas packages that began to arrive in late November and were received in a continuous stream throughout the first three weeks of December.
Health. In December both hepatitis and diphtheria threatened the efficiency of the Group. The following account of this threat has been written by the Group Surgeon, Major Charles J. Deishley.
“Hepatitis – There were four cases from early in August until the latter part of November. Between November 1st and December 13th our Group had twenty-three cases (fourteen in the 766th and nine in the 765th). Of the men affected in the 765th, it is unusual that it seems to confine itself to the ground officers. At one time all but one line officer in that squadron were in the hospital. There were thirteen cases in November and ten cases in December. At the present time there are no new cases developing.
“Diphtheria – Only one squadron was involved in this disease. This was the 765th Squadron. During the period of 26 November to 2 December, eight definite cases were admitted to the hospital, and three persons diagnosed as carriers were admitted. There were several other suspects admitted, but diagnosis was not confirmed. Very strict precautions were exercised as soon as the first case appeared, which may have been the reason a severe epidemic did not occur. Fifteenth Air Force heard of our cases and sent two surgeons to assist us in Schick-testing the entire squadron. Ten days after the original Schick test those men who were positive were given another Schick test. The results have been forwarded to Air Force and may prove valuable in case some other outfit has diptheria.”
(B) Operations.
Seventeen combat missions were flown during the month of December. Seven of these missions were against the enemy’s bit synthetic oil refineries in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany; eight were against marshalling yards and two were against railroad viaducts. The complete list of targets attacked was probably the roughest for any month since July.
The losses during the month attested to the roughness of the targets. Personnel losses totaled three killed, nine wounded, and 125 missing in action. Of the 324 planes that flew effective sorties, 63 were damaged by flak and fighters, and 19 others were lost. In the only encounter during the month with enemy fighters our crews claimed 24 destroyed and five probably destroyed.
New crews continued to arrive and the number of airplanes available continued to decline. For the month the Group had an average of 104.2 crews and an average of only 46.5 airplanes assigned.
To increase the possibility of a Group and Wing assembly above the undercasts that frequently attended take-offs, three additional assembly areas were assigned to the Group. One was along the western shoreline of the Adriatic south of the “spur”; and the third was along the coast of Yugoslavia, east of the Island of Vis.
A cargo plane returning from Naples was lost near the Field shortly after dark the evening of 23 December while attempting to land below bad weather and a very low ceiling. Ten of the fifteen officers and men aboard the plane were killed. Among the survivors were the pilot, Captain Gerald L. Vanderhoeven, and the copilot, 1st Lt. Theodore R. Ahlberg, both of whom were seriously injured when thrown clear of the wreckage through the top of the plane. Both had been outstanding flight leaders in the 766th Squadron. Captain Vanderhoeven had completed his tour of duty and was awaiting orders to return to the United States. Lt. Ahlberg, whjo had returned several weeks previous to the accident from rotation to the United States, had but a few missions left to complete his tour of duty.
Two enlisted men from the Group survived the crash. They were S. Sgt. Saul Kaplowitz and S. Sgt. Gerald S. Huizenga. The fifth survivor was an enlisted man from the 484th Group.
Those fatally injured were: 1st Lt. Paul M. Kuric, a flight leader navigator from the 766th Squadron who had returned to the Group from rotation to the United States and who was serving as the navigator on this mission; T. Sgt. William Tychostup; S. Sgt. Robert E. Moritz; S. Sgt. Raymond G. Hunt, Jr.; Cpl. James C. Wilson and George G. Oder, and four pilots from the 14th Fighter Group.
Correction
In certain previous chapters reference has been made under the Operations Section to combat hours. In each case this reference applied to airplane combat hours and not, as stated, to combat hours for crew members.
NEW CREWS
A total of twenty-two new crews were received during the month of December. They were led by:
Paragraph 1 of Group Special Orders No. 159, dated 3 December 1944, reads as follows: “Having been asgd to this Gp PAC VOCG 15 AF, 2 Dec 44, the fol named personnel are further asgd to orgns as indicated, eff 2 Dec 44”.
764th Squadron
2nd Lt. Frank M. Brown, Jr.
2nd Lt. Jessie C. Carlisle
2nd Lt. Chester W. Crumbo
2nd Lt. Paul P. Viliesis
765th Squadron
2nd Lt. John W. Anderson, Jr.
2nd Lt. Lloyd R. Heinz
2nd Lt. Dewey E. McMillen
2nd Lt. Stanley P. Porch
2nd Lt. Dominick Traetta
2nd Lt. Vahl A. Vladyka
766th Squadron
2nd Lt. John H. Boyd
2nd Lt. Andrew Curtis, Jr.
2nd Lt. Josiah R. Hooper
2nd Lt. Robert R. McKee
767th Squadron
2nd Lt. Donald Cameron
2nd Lt. Walter M. Clarke
2nd Lt. Edward K. Delana
2nd Lt. Robert C. Hansen
1st Lt. Charles V. Lang, Jr.
2nd Lt. William E. Vogel
2nd Lt. Thomas R. Wiley
2nd Lt. Donald L. Yauger
M I S S I O
N S
Mission No. 142, 2 December 1944, Blechhammer South Synthetic Oil Refinery, Germany
Major Donovan led a six-flight formation on 2 December in attacking the South Plant of the synthetic oil refinery at Blechhammer, Germany, by pathfinder method. A very effective smoke screen with the smudge pots located considerable distance from the target seemed to have baffled the navigators, the bombardiers, and the mickey operators in the lead and deputy lead planes. Upon returning to Base they expressed undivided confidence that they had hit the target, but photographs of the mission revealed that the target was missed by approximately seven miles. Of the twenty-six planes over the target, two were severely damaged by flak and thirteen others were hit. One man was wounded on this mission.
Mission No. 143, 3 December 1944 – Ali
Pasin Most Marshalling Yard at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (Cancelled)
Mission No. 143, 3 December 1944 –
Innsbruck Main Marshalling Yard, Austria
Two missions were briefed the morning of 3 December. A four-box formation assigned to bomb the Ali Pasin Most M/Y at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, was stood down, but the two-pathfinder individual plane mission to Innsbruck Main Marshalling Yard, Austria, was flown. Both planes bombed the target by pathfinder methods above a ten-tenths undercast with unobserved results. Flak at the target was negligible. The plane flown by 2nd Lt. Robert r. Friedersdorf returned to the Base without incident, but the one flown by 1st Lt. Bertrand J. Arents developed serious engine trouble on the return route and was compelled to land at Rimini. All but three of the crew members hitch-hiked back to the Base. Nineteen days elapsed before Lt. Arents returned to the Base with the plane.
Mission No. 144, 6 December 1944 – Maribor South Marshalling Yard, Yugoslavia
Bad weather seriously hindered the mission of 6 December when Captain Mixson led a six-flight formation against the South Marshalling Yard at Maribor, Yugoslavia. Some of the planes in the formation became lost when attempting to get above a stratus layer based at 15,000 feet. Some of these stray planes bombed individually and others bombed with different Groups in the Air Force. The formation that was able to stay with Captain Mixson found poor visibility and nine-tenths cloud coverage at the target. Pathfinder methods were used for navigational purposes and for the target approach, but the bombing was done visually with unobserved results. Nine planes were hit by flak over the target.
Mission No. 145 was a two-plane pathfinder mission against the Innsbruck Main Station, Austria, the night of 6-7 December 1944. 2nd Lt. Robert J. Louches and his crew were forced to return early when their number four engine caught on fire. The plane piloted by 1st Lt. Robert A. Galvan hit the primary target. Radio conversation that was overheard on this mission revealed that enemy night fighters were attacking bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force on this mission.
Mission No. 146 was another two-plane pathfinder mission against the oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, Austria. It was flown the night of 7-8 December. The plane was flown by 1st Lt. Hubert W. Souther and could not get to its briefed altitude because of icing conditions. When it finally reached the initial point the visibility was so good that lights in the target area could be seen in the distance. With inadequate cloud protection, the crew abandoned the target, jettisoned their bombs in the Adriatic, and returned to the Base.
The second plane, piloted by 2nd Lt. Robert R. Friedersdorf, encountered five enemy fighters after making landfall at the head of the Adriatic. Three of the unidentified fighters stood off the wings of the bomber at a safe distance while two others attacked, making their passes low, one from each side. The bomber crew jettisoned their bombs, fought off the attack, found cloud cover, and returned to Base.
Mission No. 147, 11 December 1944 – Vienna Maitzlendorf Goods Station, Austria
Pressing to complete his tour of duty, Colonel Hawes led a formation of thirty planes in attacking the Vienna Maitzlendorf Goods Station on 11 December 1944. With only two-tenths cloud coverage at the target the enemy flak, which was intense, accurate and heavy, was probably the worst ever experienced by this Group at Vienna. Fourteen of the twenty-four planes over the target were hit.
Several Groups in the Fifteenth Air Force had already hit targets in the South Vienna Area before this Group arrived at the target. Despite good horizontal visibility the Group was compelled to bomb by pathfinder methods due to the smoke screen, the fires; and the haze in the target area. The bomb pattern was a concentrated one but unfortunately most of the bombs fell just short of the target in an industrial area.
1st Lt. Jay M. Garner had his hydraulics shot out and his cables jammed on this mission. He circled the field for nearly two hours using up his gasoline and waiting for his crew to find some way of letting down and locking the landing gear. Finally, when nearly out of gas, he bailed out all but two others members of his crew and successfully crash-landed the p lane in the darkness on the non-serviceable East runway. The copilot, Lt. Roger Nixon, and the engineer, Cpl. Charles Barnes, rode the plan down with him. None of the three were injured and much of the plane was salvaged.
Major Joseph N. Donovan, the 767th Squadron Commander, led the second section on this mission and became the third squadron commander in the history of the Group to complete a tour of duty.
Mission No. 148, 12 December 1944 – Blechhammer South Synthetic Oil Refinery, Germany
For Mission No. 148 another feature was added to the ever-changing tactics employed by the Fifteenth Air Force in its endless effort to keep pressure on German oil and rolling stock despite adverse weather conditions. Six pathfinder planes were assigned to hit the Blechhammer South Oil Refinery during daylight hours. Instead of flying individual missions with short intervals between each plane over the target, the planes for this mission were scheduled to fly and attack the target in three flights of two planes each.
Of the six planes scheduled for the mission, only five got off. Two were early returns due to mechanical failures. Each of the three remaining planes bombed a different target.
While one of the planes was enroute to the target it was discovered that the radar set was not working accurately. Because of this, the town of Gattendorf, near Vienna, was picked as a target of opportunity and bombed by a combination of visual and pathfinder methods with unobserved results. A second plane developed gasoline leaks enroute to the target and so was compelled to bomb the second alternate target, the Privoz Oil Refinery at Moravska Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. One plant hit the primary target with unobserved results.
Flying between two decks of clouds, 2nd Lt. Robert T. Barnes and his crew were jumped by the enemy fighters north of Lake Balaton on their return from the Privoz Oil Refinery. A formation of four Me-109s was led out of the clouds by an unidentified plane that might possibly have been a radar plane. In the encounter that took place before Lt. Barnes could reach the protection of the clouds below him, two of his gunners were wounded and one enemy airplane was probably destroyed.
The plane that went to the primary target was compelled to land at Vis to refuel on the return route. (Despite the fact that this is the first mention in this History of one of our planes having landed at Vis, there is nothing unusual in this incident. On the 13th mission of the 461st Group on 23 April 1944, 1st Lt. Matias M. Torres, Jr. had bailed his crew out over the Island of Vis.(1) Following that incident one or more planes in a Group formation which were running low on gasoline frequently stopped at the friendly Island of Vis to refuel.)
Mission No. 149, 13 December 1944 – Brux
Synthetic Oil Plant, Czechoslovakia (Cancelled)
Mission No. 149, 13 December 1944 – Linz
Main Marshalling Yard, Austria
(Cancelled)
Mission No. 149, 14 December 1944 – Brux
Synthetic Oil Plant, Czechoslovakia (Cancelled)
Mission No. 149, 14 December 1944 – Linz
Main Marshalling Yard, Austria
(Cancelled)
Mission No. 149, 15 December 1944 – Rolling
Stock at Linz Main Marshalling Yard, Austria
On 15 December the Group Commander, Colonel Hawes, completed his tour of duty in leading the Group and Wing formation in an attack on the Main Marshalling Yard at Linz, Austria. After take-off the rendezvous was made above a ten-tenths layer of clouds with tops at 6000 feet. Horizontal visibility at the target was unlimited, but the solid undercast necessitated instrument bombing with unobserved results. Over the target the Group experienced moderate, inaccurate, and heavy flak, but not a single plane that returned to the Base was hit. The plane flown by 2nd Lt. Clarence P. Marshall left the formation before the initial point and failed to return to the Base.
It seemed a most fitting conclusion to Colonel Hawes’ tour of duty that he took twenty-nine airplanes over the exceptionally well-defended target area of Linz without having a plane hit by flak. As a Group, Wing and Air Force leader, he had repeatedly demonstrated his ability during his tour of duty to come off rough targets having suffered a minimum amount of damage. When not leading the Air Force, he had habitually made it his practice to maneuver his formation in such a manner as to sit tight above the tail of a Group or Wing formation immediately ahead of him over the target.
Mission No. 150, 16 December 1944 – Brux Synthetic Oil Refinery, Cechoslovakia
On 16 December Major Rider led a large formation against a far distant and heavily defended target, the synthetic oil refinery at Brux, Czechoslovakia. The formation flew between two decks of clouds over the Adriatic, but experienced fairly good weather over the Alps. Over the target the tops of the solid undercast were up to 20,000 feet. Taking advantage of the high solid undercast, Major Rider was able to almost completely avoid the intense flak. The plane flown by 1st Lt. Lee P Ward, Jr., which failed to return from the mission, was the only plane over the target to be hit.
Captain Mixson took off on 17 December with thirty-one airplanes to attack the synthetic oil refinery at Odertal, Germany. There were five early returns. Only fifteen of the twenty-six remaining airplanes reached the target. The bombs were dropped through a solid undercast with unobserved results.
To minimize drag and thus conserve gasoline for the long mission, the gunners had been briefed to stand by to lower the ball turrets but not to actually lower them until the IP, Zuckmantel, was reached. Near Muglitz, just south of the initial point, the Group was attacked by upward of fifty Me-109s and FW-190s.
The attack lasted approximately fifteen minutes during which the enemy used both rockets and 20 mm cannon. Passes were made mostly in pairs from 5:00 to 7:00 o’clock low with breakaways also low. The bombers that returned to the Base claimed twenty-four of the attacking fighters destroyed and five probably destroyed. Despite the fact that the ball turrets had the advantage of computing sights and the most favorable position against low attacks, they fired the fewest number of rounds and claimed the fewest enemy airplanes of any position on the bombers. Of a total of 12,620 rounds of ammunition expended, the ball turrets expended but 1365 rounds.
As a result of the fighter attack, nine planes in the formation were shot down and a tenth one was lost to ditching while in the traffic pattern near the Island of Vis. In all, ten planes were lost, five others were damaged, three individuals were killed, two were wounded, and ninety-three were missing in action.
On the way home from the mission, while north of Vienna, Captain Mixson was checking the number of planes left in his formation over the radio when a German voice, apparently using our radio frequency, broke in with the proper call sig to ask, “Where is the rest of your formation?”, laughed, and signed off.
Killed in ditching were 1st Lt. Eugene P. Ford, 1st Lt. Russell C. Landry, and T. Sgt. Charles E. Priest. The wounded were Sgt. Archie S. Russell and Sgt. Walter L. Franks. Missing in action were the crews of the following pilots: 1st Lt. Robert A. Galvan; 1st Lt. Charles v. Lang, Jr.; 2nd Lt. Frederick B. Capalbo; 2nd Lt. Philip J. Crossman; 2nd Lt. Max M. Hailey; 2nd Lt. Nicholas Sidovar; and 2nd Lt. Gerald R. Smith, Smith; 2nd Lt. Kenneth B. Smith; and 2nd Lt. Thomas J. West.
Mission No. 152, 18 December 1944 – Blechhammer North Synthetic Oil Refinery, Germany
Mission No. 152 was a three-flight formation led by Lt. Colonel Lwhon against the North Oil Refinery at Blechhammer, Germany. Due to practically solid cloud coverage the bombing, as usual, was done by the pathfinder method. The bomb strike pictures, however, show three small breaks in the clouds over the target. A long and detailed study of these pictures that was instigated by Colonel Hawes revealed beyond any doubt that the target was exceptionally well hit by the fifteen planes in the formation. Again a crew was lost on this mission when the plane piloted by 2nd Lt. Edward K. George dropped behind the formation after coming off the target.
Commendation
|
From: |
49th Bomb Wing |
|
To: |
451st, 461st, 484th Bomb Groups. Attention: S-3 Officers |
“Recent photographs coverage has proved that our relentless attacks have dealt crippling blows to the Hun and his most vulnerable spot -- his sources of oil. Definite information verifying the effectiveness of the tremendous effort the combat and service units of this Air Force have been called upon to exert compensated in measure for the sacrifices entailed. I realize that in ordering deep penetrations into enemy territory with unfavorable weather adding to the hazards of combat, I have required the personnel of this commend to exert a supreme effort. It is heartening to know that such an effort has been crowned with success. The devastated refinery of Blechhammer North bears witness to the valor, the outstanding flying proficiency and professional skill of our combat crews and to the determination of their combat leaders. I commend the fighter pilots and their leaders on the brilliant performance of their escort assignments. I congratulate the service units and the maintenance personnel f the tactical units on their excellent response to the arduous demands made upon them. We know that our campaign is progressing favorably and that our successful attacks on the enemy in the recent months will hasten his complete and utter defeat.”
(Signed) TWINING
Mission No. 153, 19 December 1944 – Blechhammer South Oil Refinery, Germany
Another three-flight formation to Blechhammer, this time with the South Refinery as the target. Of the eighteen airplanes off, two were early returns and six lost the formation in snowstorms. These six planes, all in one flight, bombed Sternberg, Germany, as a target of opportunity. The ten planes over the target dropped their bombs through a solid undercast with unobserved results. Six of the ten planes over the primary target were hit by flak but there were no losses.
On 20 December a two-flight formation led by Lt. Colonel Hardy took off with the synthetic oil refinery at Brux, Czechoslovakia, as the primary target. The weather over Yugoslavia was so bad that it was impossible to keep even a two-flight formation together. As a result, one flight bombed Villach, Austria, and the other one bombed Linz, Austria, with the 484th Group. The results were unobserved. When the planes returned to the Base, the ceiling was 200 feet, but there were no landing accidents.
Mission No. 155, 22 December 1944 – Brux
Synthetic Oil Refnery, Czechoslkavakia (Cancelled)
Mission No. 155, 23 December 1944 – Verona
Locomotive Repair Depot, Italy
(Cancelled)
Mission No. 155, 24 December 1944 –
Lechfeld Airdrome, Germany (Cancelled)
Mission No. 155, 25 December 1944 – Wels
Marshalling Yard, Austria
At 2200 hours on Christmas Eve the officers and men in the transportation, armament and ordnance sections were ordered to the line in a cold, driving rain to change the bomb load from frag clusters to 500 pound RDX bombs. These frag bombs had been left in the planes in anticipation of the possibility of flying the mission of 24 December that had been stood down.
At 0744 hours on Christmas morning twenty-six airplanes took off to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Brux, Czechoslovakia. The planes were off in the rain that was accompanied by a visibility of two miles and a ceiling of less than 500 feet. This was the poorest weather in which this Group had ever taken off for a combat mission. The planes broke through the ten-tenths cumulus at 1500 feet and proceeded to the coast of Yugoslavia individually for assembly and rendezvous. From the rendezvous area northward the weather steadily improved with the result that by the time the Alps were reached, it was CAVU with haze.
Having been late in taking off and also having been late at the rendezvous, the Group did not have enough daylight hours left in which to complete a mission against the primary target. As a result, the Group bombed the third alternate target, the marshalling yard at Wels, Austria. The bombing was done visually but unfortunately the target was missed.
It was long after dark that evening before the bad weather over the Base moved out to sea. Each of the pilots in the five planes that were early returns had difficulty landing because of the low hanging cumulus clouds. Only one plane that was over a target returned to the Base at the completion of the mission. The pilot of this plane circled the field three times to get underneath a 200-foot ceiling.
Most of the planes landed at Bari and at Gioia with a few at scattered fields in the Foggia area. During the afternoon of 25 December, a warning order for a mission on the following day was received by the Group. This warning order was later cancelled when it was learned by the Air Force that the Group would not have enough planes with which to fly a mission on 26 December.
During the day of the 26th, the planes came straggling back to the Base. Having missed their target despite the good weather, having been away from the Base for Christmas, and having slept in their clothes in a vain effort to keep warm, the crews were a dejected lot.
On 27 December Captain Roberts led a five-flight formation to North Italy where the Venzone Viaduct was bombed visually. The planes, carrying 1000-pound bombs, bombed by flights. The main pattern of bombs fell on the west side of the viaduct where direct hits and near misses were scored. The scattered patterns of the various boxes clearly demonstrated that practice bombing was sorely needed.
On the following day the Group and the Wing were back again in good weather to the Venzone Viaduct with 1000 pound bombs. Again the formation, led this time by Captain Phillips, bombed by boxes. The best pattern started in the river west of the target and continued directly across the target. The bombing, on the whole, was much better than it had been on the previous day.
Photo reconnaisance on 28 December, after both attacks by the 49th Wing, revealed that complete interdiction was achieved as a result of these two missions. The structure, 2760 feet in length, 16 feet in width, and 32 feet in height, was completely cut in two different places.
Commendation
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From: |
CO, 49th Bomb Wing, Command Section. |
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To: |
CO, 461st Bomb Gp. |
“The following message from General Twining is quoted for your information, ‘My congratulations to the 49 Wing for superior bridge busting job at Venzone on the 27 and 28 of December. Please pass to all Groups participating Well Done’”.
(Signed) LEE
Mission No. 158, 29 December 1944 – Rosenheim Marshalling Yard, Germany and Castelfranco Veneto Railroad Junction, Italy
The last mission of the month, flown on 29 December, was led by Lt. Colonel Hardy. The primary target was the Passau Marshalling Yard in Germany. As had been the case earlier in December, Lt. Colonel Hardy drew an especially bad weather assignment. Scattered cirrus, which extended up to 22,000 feet over the Adriatic, split the twenty-eight planes into two formations.
Two flights, above a solid undercast, bombed the marshalling yard at Rosenheim, Germany, with unobserved results. The other two flights visually bombed the locomotive depot at Castelfranco Veneto where the weather was clear. The photographs of the bombing of Castelfranco show a close concentrated pattern with hits on the large repair shop, the center of the marshalling yard, the west choke point, an industrial plant southeast of the locomotive depot, and the highway overpass.
On returning to the Basc, three of the four flights found a hole south of the spur at Lake Lesina through which to let down for a return to the base. The fourth flight, however, failed to find a hole and was compelled to land at Iesi and Falconara where they remained until late afternoon of 31 December.
Captain Murphy, the Group Bombardier, completed his tour of duty on this mission. With the exception of eighteen officers who returned to the Group on rotation to the United States, Captain Murphy was the last individual among the flying offices of the original Group and Squadron staffs and combat crew members to complete a tour of duty. He was aboard one of the planes that landed at Iesi. When he returned to the Base he learned of his promotion to Major.
Commendation
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Subject: |
TWX A 00504 |
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To: |
All concerned |
“The following message received from General Twining is quoted for your information cite XVAF A230. ‘The results of the bombing by the 461st Bomb Group against the alternate target, the locomotive depot at Castelfranco, were most excellent. My highest commendations to the crews who turned in this splendid performance.’”
MISSING IN ACTION
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Mission |
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Rank |
Name |
Home Town |
Date |
Target |
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1st Lt. |
Clarence P. Marshall |
Pittsburg, Kans. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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1st Lt. |
Calvin E. Jarnagin |
Colorado City, Tex |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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2nd Lt. |
Leroy M. Nayes |
Fingal, N.D. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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1st Lt. |
Frank M. Dick |
Brookline, Mass. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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S. Sgt. |
Calvin S. Steinberg |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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S. Sgt. |
Gordon L. Commander |
Argyle, Florida |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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S. Sgt. |
Joseph M. DeRosa |
Oak Park, Ill. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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Sgt. |
Albert G. Hill |
Fortson, Georgia |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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S. Sgt. |
Gus A. Sundquist |
McKeesport, Pa. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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S. Sgt. |
Jan E. Wroclawski |
Bronx, N.Y. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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Cpl. |
James J. Martino |
Cranston, R.I. |
15/12/44 |
Linz |
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1st Lt. |
Lee P. Ward, Jr. |
Houston, Tex. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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2nd Lt. |
Thomas M. Merkouris |
Jersey City, N.J. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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F/O |
Kenneth E. Merry |
Emporia, Kans. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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2nd Lt. |
Charles E. Mundy |
Tucson, Ariz |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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Cpl. |
Thomas H. MacDonald |
Madison, Maine |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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Cpl. |
Paul T. Haggerty |
Fall River, Mass. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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Cpl. |
Thomas F. Byers |
Saxonburg, Pa. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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Cpl. |
Melvin G. TenHaken |
Oostburg, Wis. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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T. Sgt. |
Jesse H. Palmer |
Kansas City, Kans. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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Cpl. |
R.C. Wakefield |
Double Springs, Ala. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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T Sgt. |
Harry W. Dunham |
Upper Lisle, N.Y. |
16/12/44 |
Brux |
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2nd Lt. |
Max M. Hailey |
Walnut Grove, Mo. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
James G. Hendrix |
Winston-Salem, Mo. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
Harber P. Sugg, Jr. |
Ada, Okla. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
Ivy L. Killian |
St. Louis, Mo. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Harry D. Spencer |
Fruitland, Idaho |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Julius G. Fajkus |
Bloomington, Tex. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Palmer D. Arrowood |
Langley, Kentucky |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Albert T. Arrotta |
Chelsea, Mass. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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S. Sgt. |
Jacob Herman, III |
Holyoke, Mass. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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T. Sgt. |
Lawrence F. Dixon, Jr. |
Pisgan Forest, N.C. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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1st Lt. |
Robert A. Galvan |
San Antonio, Tex. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
Eldred H. Helton |
Timberland, N.C. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
Edward A. Hussler |
Morris, Ill. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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2nd Lt. |
Frederick C. Smyth |
Victoria, Tex. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Albert G. Jones |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Arthur C. Piccoli |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Thomas S. Lyons |
Brentwood, Tenn. |
17/12/44 |
Odertal |
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Sgt. |
Thomas E. Stevenson |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
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