The key railroad marshalling yard facilities in Aschaffenburg, 26 miles southeast of Frankfurt, were the target. With a capacity for handling 2,500 wagons per day, the marshalling yards were last attacked on 21 January 1945 with only slight damage done.
For the first time in weeks, the prospects for a visual target were excellent as the weather had cleared over the Continent. General briefings for 30 aircrews were conducted between 0315 and 0430 hours with 28 commencing take-offs at 0650. Each plane had 2,700 gallons of fuel and carried ten 500 pound General Purpose bombs.
A long route down over France was briefed to avoid poor weather which still persisted over north central Germany. A force of 27 bombers went over the target, releasing (262) 500 pounders.
The 578th Sqdn, leading the 392nd, accomplished fair bombing as did the 577th high right squadron. The 576th Squadron, however, dropped 54 percent of its bombs within 500 feet of the Mean Point of Impact (MPI), 93 percent within 1,000 feet and 100 percent within 2,000 feet of the MPI.
According to the 392nd's Photo Interpreter:
"This is really excellent bombing. The MPI here was the large double round house and the 576th blanketed it with at least 30 bursts. Next to this they also damaged or destroyed at least 50 railroad cars. Other hits were scored on roads and 7 large buildings near the yards... To sum it all up, this was a very successful mission and should have put the marshalling yards out of commission for awhile, by cutting many of the tracks and destroying much of the rolling stock."
Enemy fighters were not encountered and AA fire was meager. The long route caused six crews to land elsewhere due to low fuel: Capt W.L. Miller and 2/Lt Dodson at B-58 and 2/Lt Joyce at B-53 on the Continent; 2/Lt Pope at Horsham; and 2/Lt Jordon and 1/Lt Harding at Manston. The other ships landed safely at Wendling by 1607 hours after a long but successful raid. The next day, Gen William Kepner, Commander of the 2nd Bomb Division sent a message commending the Division and the 392nd for its outstanding bombing on this mission.
To be read to all crews at briefings, the message said:
"Evaluation of yesterday's bombing results of important communications and a/c centers conclusively shows that each of 2nd Division's targets was superlatively hit. I consider this to be not only the best day's work this Division has ever done while under my command but also one of the outstanding performances in the history of precision bombing. My congratulations to each and every officer and man in each and every Group and Wing for this magnificent performance which dealt the enemy a devastating blow at one of the crucial periods of the war."
[signed] KEPNER
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 709 |
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P Hummel, J.R. 2nd Lt. CP Reynolds, J.E. 2nd Lt. N Knudson, B.L. 2nd Lt. B Chadwick, R.H. 2nd Lt. R Deaton, J.A. Cpl. E Keagle, P.E. Cpl. RW Finney, H.H. Cpl. LW Milchak, E.A. Cpl. TG Powell, H. Cpl. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 194 |
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P Raczko, W. 2nd Lt. CP McGill, C.L. 2nd Lt. N Cline, A.P. F/O B Holland, J.R. S/Sgt. R VanDeven, J.K. S/Sgt. E Reynolds, J.R. S/Sgt. RW Parker, R.J. S/Sgt. LW Merchant, W.D. S/Sgt. TG Adkins, J.E. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 540 |
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P Peterson, T.W. 1st Lt. CP Rohe, J.M. 1st Lt. N Damerst, W.A. 2nd Lt. B Lawson, R.F. 1st Lt. R Green, C.M. T/Sgt. E Bruney, G.L. T/Sgt. RW Mitchell, D.F. Pvt. LW Hankins, T.E. S/Sgt. TG Hoffman, G.A. S/Sgt. PN Miller, S. 1st Lt. S-27 Simpson, V.H. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 357 |
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P Dugger, F.R. 1st Lt. CP Henrickson, J.L. 1st Lt. N Vealey, S.L. F/O B McInvale, A.L. S/Sgt. R Chenail, G.E. T/Sgt. E Jones, J.R. T/Sgt. RW Coffman, J.G. S/Sgt. LW Rubenstein, S.J. S/Sgt. TG McAtee, J.R. S/Sgt. RCM Williams, C.B. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 302 |
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P Proctor, H.E. 2nd Lt. CP Russell, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Plagenhoef, S.C. 2nd Lt. B Wade, T.E. Sgt. R Kerfoot, D.A. Sgt. E Lewis, A.J. Sgt. RW Gill, J.B. Sgt. LW Kouzes, G. Sgt. TG Dippel, W.L. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 476 |
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P Harcus, R.W. 2nd Lt. CP Thompson, J.R. 2nd Lt. N Adler, M.N. 2nd Lt. B Brennan, R.W. S/Sgt. R Shanley, J.V. T/Sgt. E Thomas, E. T/Sgt. RW Spears, D.D. S/Sgt. LW Marshall, L.C. S/Sgt. TG Rosenberg, J.E. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 409 |
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P Smith, W.E. 2nd Lt. CP Malmborg, F.L. 2nd Lt. N Purvis, C.G. 2nd Lt. B Linderman, W.T. Sgt. R Kroll, M.E. Sgt. E Lyon, H.H. Sgt. RW Devish, M.G. Sgt. LW Werner, W.T. Sgt. TG Farley, R.L. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 385 |
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P Kelly, J.B. 1st Lt. CP Vaughan, D. F/O N Coleman, A.D. 2nd Lt. B D'Ambrosio, M.J. Cpl. R McElroy, V.E. Cpl. E Yost, D.A. Cpl. RW Zielke, W.P. Cpl. LW Poremba, S.J. Cpl. TG Reardon, D.J. Cpl. |
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25 Feb 1945 576th Sqdn. A/C 770 |
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P Blakeley, W.G. 2nd Lt. CP Schoelerman, H.A. 2nd Lt. N Walker, C.S. 2nd Lt. B Colquhoun, R.N. Sgt. R Spades, R.J. Sgt. E Seyfried, W.J. Sgt. RW Talley, E.R. Sgt. LW Keith, D.N. Sgt. TG Law J.L. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 040 |
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P Cohn, A.J. 2nd Lt. CP Runyon, D.S. 2nd Lt. N Cottone, P.P. 2nd Lt. B Norton, W.R. S/Sgt. R Kincaid, M.M. T/Sgt. E Cross, G.H. T/Sgt. RW Korpi, W.B. S/Sgt. LW Nogales, D.E. Jr. S/Sgt. TG Avery, W.R. S/Sgt. RCM Malone, H.Q. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 448 |
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P Stoddard, K.L. 2nd Lt. CP Wilson, J.A. 2nd Lt. N Koke, D.H. 2nd Lt. B Ringness, J.R. Sgt. R Logue, R.V. Sgt. E O'Hara, R.F. S/Sgt. RW Hoffman, R.A. Sgt. LW Hores, G.P. Sgt. TG Szews, S.M. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 901 |
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P Shaw, B.R. 2nd Lt. CP Bachman, L.W. 2nd Lt. N Anstey, M.P. F/O B Hoover, R.C. S/Sgt. R Sturm, W.A. S/Sgt. E Kedenburg, J.H. S/Sgt. RW Rice, W.W. S/Sgt. LW Perlingiero, C.P. S/Sgt. TG Schunke, C.W. S/Sgt. RCM Watson, C.B. T/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 511 |
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P Dodson, G.H. 2nd Lt. CP LeFevre, L.P. 2nd Lt. N Fletcher, W.J. 2nd Lt. B Hochard, H.H. S/Sgt. R Green, J.M. S/Sgt. E Herrera, D.R. S/Sgt. RW Allendorf, V.G. Sgt. LW Peterson, F.H. Sgt. TG Jenkins, C.E. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 118 |
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P Myers, C.E. 2nd Lt. CP Anderson, K.W. 2nd Lt. N Warntz, W. F/O B Zgurich, E.E. 2nd Lt. R Jaklinski, B. S/Sgt. E Payton, J.B. S/Sgt. RW Thornton, A.H. S/Sgt. LW Gillette, R.E. Sgt. TG Kirk, G.A. S/Sgt. -- Taylor, J.L. Cpl. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 238 |
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P Harding, W.A. 1st Lt. CP Morrow, E.T. 2nd Lt. N Parrish, J.D. 2nd Lt. B Fisher, J.G. Sgt. R Dollar, W.H. Sgt. E Butler, C.E. Sgt. RW Silliman, E. Sgt. LW Smith, R.L. Jr. Sgt. TG Neumann, H.J. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 838 |
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P Pope, L.S. 2nd Lt. CP Snowhill, T.B. 2nd Lt. N Rodstein, B. 2nd Lt. B Lane, T.C. S/Sgt. R Reed, D.F. S/Sgt. E Turrisi, J.R. S/Sgt. RW Fuller, M.A. S/Sgt. LW Dardano, F.A. S/Sgt. TG Keach, G.T. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 577th Sqdn. A/C 507 |
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P Jordan, T.J. 2nd Lt. CP Fastabend, J.B. 1st Lt. N Sprosty, A.O. 2nd Lt. B Faust, L.E. 2nd Lt. R Brown, L.E. T/Sgt. E Kinzler, S.J. S/Sgt. RW Davis, T.N. S/Sgt. LW Meister, R.H. S/Sgt. TG Kwiatowski, L.P. S/Sgt. PN Washabau, C.B. 2nd Lt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 250 (landed on the Continent) |
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P Joyce, J.F. 2nd Lt. CP Bowman, J.A. 2nd Lt. N McQuade, R.N. F/O B Andrews, Q.Q. S/Sgt. R Brown, J.F. T/Sgt. E Albino, A. T/Sgt. RW Gorham, R.L. Sgt. LW Kurkomelis, G.C. S/Sgt. TG Richter, R.H. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 249 |
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P Tays, R.H. 1st Lt. CP Ferguson, T.B. 2nd Lt. N Holzinger, J.J. 1st Lt. B Sorensen, A.C. 1st Lt. R Berger, J.T. Sgt. E King, C.C. T/Sgt. RW Coury, G.A. S/Sgt. LW Turner, M.E. S/Sgt. TG Fetterhoff, E.E. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 636 |
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P Garcia, A.R. 1st Lt. CP Pollack, M. 2nd Lt. N Hoffman, W.A. F/O B Westlund, J.K. Sgt. R Nelson, D.A. S/Sgt. E Landes, I.B. Sgt. RW Merda, A.J. Sgt. LW Pennington, M.E. Sgt. TG Rauscher, J.G. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 205 |
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P Ardinger, J. 2nd Lt. CP Grandmontagne, E.T. 2nd Lt. N Wagner, H.W. F/O B Edwards, R.L. 2nd Lt. R Huitt, G.E. S/Sgt. E Wiedekehr, R.W. Sgt. RW Gorback, B.S. Sgt. LW Jones, J.K. S/Sgt. TG White, A. S/Sgt. S-27 Belsky, M. T/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 446 |
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P Rose, P.E. 1st Lt. CP Pratt, D.M. 1st Lt. N Rohde, C.R. 1st Lt. B Harnden, R.G. 1st Lt. R Croy, O.N. T/Sgt. E Scott, W.A. T/Sgt. RW Davidson, S.A. S/Sgt. LW Manelick, N.L. S/Sgt. TG Beane, H.E. S/Sgt. S-27 Krohn, O.G. T/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 436 (no mission credit) |
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P Warner, C.W. 2nd Lt. CP Smith, J.E. 2nd Lt. N Peppard, J.M. F/O B Kight, D.A. S/Sgt. R Hathaway, E.O. S/Sgt. E McGee, O.W. S/Sgt. RW Neel, L.E. S/Sgt. LW Brooks, E.J. S/Sgt. TG Richmond, T.C. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 804 |
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P Mayer, E.H. 1st Lt. CP Fligge, S.G. 2nd Lt. N Burros, R.S. 2nd Lt. B Crosby, P.E. 2nd Lt. R Hatfield, H.C. T/Sgt. E Fickel, S.A. T/Sgt. RW Gibson, C.P. S/Sgt. LW Robinson, M.M. S/Sgt. TG Fulton, C.E. S/Sgt. RCM Hairston, R.T. T/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 578th Sqdn. A/C 477 |
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P Ebersole, H.R. 2nd Lt. CP Culp, A.B. 2nd Lt. N Sauter, J.C. 2nd Lt. B Greene, H.B. Sgt. R Chew, W.B. S/Sgt. E Gabris, J.M. S/Sgt. RW McDonald, C.L. Sgt. LW Flint, D.W. Sgt. TG Lynch, H.F. Sgt. RCM Lambert, E.C. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1945 579th Sqdn. A/C 899 |
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P Beder, J. 1st Lt. CP Samsell, J.A. 1st Lt. N Matishowski, J. 1st Lt. B Murray, J.G. 1st Lt. R Murgatroyd, R.S. T/Sgt. E Morley, J.P. T/Sgt. RW Carr, R.P. S/Sgt. LW Roever, C.H. S/Sgt. TG Schodrof, R.H. S/Sgt. PN Shumaker, M.C. 2nd Lt. NV McDevitt, J.P. 2nd Lt. |
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25 Feb 1945 579th Sqdn. A/C 585 |
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P Kerr, D.R. 1st Lt. CP Fabiani, H.L. 2nd Lt. N Boettcher, R.E. 1st Lt. B Copple, R.N. 1st Lt. R Abraham, L.J. T/Sgt. E Chelenyak, J.A. T/Sgt. RW Johnson, E.W. S/Sgt. LW Richardson, W.C. S/Sgt TG Harmon, G.E. S/Sgt. NN Mintz, H.B. 2nd Lt. NV Slagle, R.G. 2nd Lt. |
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25 Feb 1945 579th Sqdn. A/C 519 |
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P Miller, W.L. Capt. CP Cassity, J.J. 1st Lt. N Mohr, J. 1st Lt. B Mackelfresh, T.H. 1st Lt. R Hagopian, H.A. T/Sgt. E Prach, F.T. T/Sgt. RW Hedges, N.E. S/Sgt. LW Moles, W.F. S/Sgt. TG Walters, L. S/Sgt. N McFarlin, J.F. 2nd Lt. NV Sprowls, R.W. 1st Lt. |
