Mission No 179

MISSION NO. 179
COLOGNE, GERMANY

28 JANUARY, 1945

There had been reports of considerable movement of German troops from the Western Front to the Eastern Front (the German Ardennes Offensive had been crushed). The targets were the vast marshalling yards at Cologne, where massive troop movements could be coordinated.

The 457th comprised the 94th A Combat Wing, with Major Doherty as Air Commander. Combat Wing assembly was accomplished. A wind change interrupted the time schedule and made a deviation in course necessary, placing the Group about seven miles left of course.

Proper position in the Division formation along the Division assembly line was attained.

The route from the end of the Division assembly line to the IP was flown approximately as briefed. Slight deviations in course were caused by the necessity of remaining in Division formation. Just before the IP, the Group swung wide to the right because the flux-gate compass was not functioning normally and some difficulty was experienced with the PFF equipment. However, corrections were made and the Group crossed the IF on course. Cloud coverage was ten tenths and bombing was done by means of G-H equipment in Group formation. The bombs were released from 25,000 feet.

After the bombs were dropped, the plane piloted by Lt. William P. Boyes left the formation near Coblenz, with one engine feathered, but apparently under control. It later crashed near Coblenz. Two crewmen lost their lives, one evaded and six were captured and became prisoners of war.

CREW LOADING LIST

January 28th, 1945
Mission No 179 Target: Cologne, Germany

If you desire to see the original scanned loading lists, click on the respective blue squadron header below.
(If a very small image appears, click on the small image to enlarge.)

748th Squadron

749th Squadron

750th Squadron

751th Squadron

	A/C # 606		A/C # 239		A/C # 838		A/C # 885
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Raymond F. Rossner Thomas P. Thompson Milton Braverman Stanley Zocks Robert B. Black Thomas C. Elliott Lyle W. Astry Henry W. Bennett John R. Westhoff	Lt Capt Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ray D. Hedrick, Jr Donald E. Lady John B. Parker Edwin B. Benson Gerald Zelikofsky Francis E. Snow Donald H. Gravelle John J. Sweeny Vincent J. Fallon Harvey G. Ray	Capt Maj Capt Lt F/O Capt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harold A. Schuler William K. Doherty Thomas A. Goff Clark (303rd B. G.) James L. Quarry Ralph D. Stutzman Lawrence D. Wilde Albert P. Boemer Lester L. Epps Earl L. McAdams	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ambrose W. Reese James F. Stoner Paul A. Brook Joel Lester Edward F. Peters Charles E. Kenney James E. McCloskey Percy C. Mack Alfred C. Hetrick

	A/C # 101		A/C # 591		A/C # 528		A/C # 123
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Albert B Gross William P. O Connor Robert J. Jacobson Tommy M. Pruitt James L. Gray Frank E. Humphries Hubert O. Newell William D. Oden Cleotis N. Helm	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Fredrick C. Ernest Quenton P. Thompson Edward R. Sage Stanley P. Gillespie Michael E. Attaway George A. Steltzer Joseph M. Mooney Rudolph E. Stegeman Gerald D. Stevens	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James R. Howell Eugene F. Howard Robert D. Beltz John S. King Thomas D. McCormick Lee R. Groman Donald S. Moore Frank C. Tucker Hiram E. Morrow	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Noel K. Robinson Donald D. Nielsen Charles L. Bowers William A. Moore Preston C. Grimm James Q. Woodard Bernard P. Wrobleski Louis H. Rickert Bernard F. Swain

	A/C # 394		A/C # 154 LOST		A/C # 167		A/C # 654
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Frederick G. Smithson Nathaniel J. Beam, Jr Arnold L. Rosenblatt Jay W. Grider Albert P. Cristofaro Carl Lewis Walter H. Kleinfelter John V. Lawton Harry A. Olson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Wallace F. Boyes Jr Elmer W. Felgenhauser Kenneth J. Furst Merritt D. Turner Francis J. Horan Abraham Feldman Frank Trapani Roy S. Duitman Robert A. Dilley	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward R. Skyrms Clarence E. Leath Sheldon J. Robbin Maurice E. Walbridge Raymond C. Blackson Henry Schmidt, Jr Robert L. Stevenson Leonard J. Lewandowski Simon C. Wareck	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Worth G. Kirkman Robert E. Wood John M. Nally Gordon L. Witt John P. Cervero Roy F. Christensen Herbert N. Hook Jack N. Gregory Leo A. Steele

	A/C # 751		A/C # 706		A/C # 881		A/C # 582
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William B. Biracree William J. Couch James R. Ogletree George L. Branstetter Archie E. Bruce Robert F. Devaney Arthur J. Christensen James A. Carey Laffatti Trace	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jack E. Wescott Fred L. Steadman Merrill H. Ross Louis P. DeCinzo Bernard L. Maki Aber J. DeCoux Billy K. Berry James C. Gianacopolis	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John R. Godwin Edward C. Foulke Robert F. Kellow Frank J. Clark Andrew J. McCormick George Kikeh Vincent C. Liguori Clifford G. Koeneman Paul J. Bernstel	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Calvin K. Schneller James D. Blackmore Francis E. Hronek Richard M. Beck John P. Austin William H. Hodge Alexander W. Bennett Donald R. Lallky Richard J. MacDonald

	A/C # 190		A/C # 113		A/C # 414		A/C # 947
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Elmer E. Witten John K. Wales George R. Nichols Ben Demattia John D. Williams Francis G. Maure Donald A. Swisher William A. Gearhart Floyd A. Monroe	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Craig P. Greason Ralph L. Gray Rudolpy Haumann Thomas E. Madigan Garland L. Frost Ralph S. Ingraham Blair Arsenault, Jr William R. Watson Garland L. Frost Kenneth L. Haseltine	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ralph L. Hay John P. Starnes Joseph V. Johns Ralph B. Julian Carroll W. Gustafson Clyde C. Patterson Thomas F. McGonical Donald M. Olson Jay S. Harrison	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Richard L. Mack Donald H. Schick John S. Nierengarden Robert P. Reublin Raymond V. Hunter Charles Held Lloyd R. Kennedy Frank J. Eichenlaub Earl E. Whitnack

	A/C # 909		A/C # 861		A/C # 857		A/C # 621
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George J. Gilbert David S. Kahne John I. Butterly Daniel Cadena, Jr. Albert F. Jenkins Richard C. Clements Albert D. Paulson John E. Dubina Claud M. Gideon	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Lloyd S. Gray Charles G. Keiler Peter H. Katz Charles L. T. Carroll James W. Brown Rector L. Soder John R. Boudreau Clifton G. Bragden Paul T. Harlan	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Donald C. Meyers Wilbur S. Pursell Hollis D. Hudleston William R. Watson Robert D. Malloy Joseph A. Jakacki James D. Ransdell Stephen F. Esterholdt Kenneth R. Vann	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George W. Bobbitt Howard T. Hampton Eugene L. Walker Charles M. Carrier John Sing Leland M. Ford Paul M. Zalusky Young W. Rainer Frank M. Prado Ralph Frackman

	A/C # 479		A/C # 518		A/C # 765		A/C # 707
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Paul F. Gillman Don E. Jensen Thomas M. Karr Robert W. Crowe Samuel H. Schafstall William S. Stanton Donald F. Boyd J. C. Arnold John E. Walters	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Delmar A. Stanley Parks E. Rea Carl E. Schieffer Leonard Y. Wendrow John R. Levar Leroy R. Ford Roger J. Howell Norman C. Kistler Dale W. Mason John A. Schuck	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Herbert A. Lawyer Albert A. Bean Thomas S. Sajetovich Doyle H. Brown Jerome Grossman Peter Credidio James R. Boyle Duane E. Reich Fernand G. Rupanian	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward F. Clark Harry R. Horn Lionel W. O'Shea Charles F. Gavin Jr Glenn S. Gruver George E. Dainty Gene R. Foss Frederick C. Rex George N. Pollock

	A/C # 028		A/C # 554		A/C # 694		A/C # 301
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John P. Weber Douglas J. Sharkey Carl G. Swanberg Charles K. Rawls Louis L. R. Gomes Edgar W. Monell Lloyd G. Hesseltine Herbert L. Stempler John Mezra	Lt F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Wendell C. Tague Jack S. Eshe Francis G. Spillane George R. Taylor Frank J. Pekar Ivan L. Mathews, Jr. George T. Zielinski Simon Pomerantz Aleck A. Capsalis	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James R. Holden Vaden P. Pitts John S. LeVar Leo J. Kleinpeter Leo I. McCombs Paul A. Esvanko Lile D. Bradley Bertram G. Johnson Jackson R. Campbell	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert W. Gronberg Paul C. Mason Hermon D. Welmer Robert M. McMakin Albert K. Richards Milo G. Hasting Ashmun J. Ripley James L. McGill William H. Shaffer

	A/C # 785		A/C # 594		A/C # 934		A/C # 021
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James Wilson William C. Manspeaker Eldon E. Smith Joseph H. Gubino William Moore Albert E. Baker Charkes A, Wilt Robert A. Storey Ivory S. Phillips	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Everett Park Edward G. Palm Bernard Liss Donald C. Ward Kenneth M. Garrison Raymond L. Madgett Joy J. Cappelle Clifton J. Rabideaux Steve Sobiaski	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harlan Buettner George J. Grau Philip A. DuPont Theodore R. Cowsert Anthony S. Giacobbi James R. Westbrook Ray F. Hawkins, Jr John P.Fulgham Leo Rendian	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles E. Birdseye Patrick H. Wallace Howard W. Demotts Alfred G. Finke Henry Freidrich Wallace T. Powell Rarson A. Smith Carl A. Johnson David Barclay

	A/C #		A/C # 826		A/C # 535		A/C # 125
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Basil R. Dundas Jr. William G. Litogot Bernard Liss Antonio Papainanni Calvin R. Taylor Clarence D. Barnes George Martin, Jr R. G. Smith Ernest D. Pappalardo	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Willmore Fluman James M. Graves Harry M. Kennedy Edward T. Ambrose Lawrence J. Gallagher Willard F. Beason Billy E. DeBerry Robert J. Gantz John M. Gayden	Lt Capt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Medford E. Hollis Kenneth R. Johnson John F. Kelly, Jr Armstein Richard I. Hinman Charles Calcaterra Leonard O. Vittitow Mario D. Terenzio Louis H. Pena Louis A.Williams

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt