Mission No 200

MISSION NO. 200
CHEMNITZ, GERMANY

2 MARCH, 1945

Another milestone in the Group's history was reached. The briefing officer commenced the briefing by observing, "Well, Men of the 457th, it's here!"

The crews were well aware it was Mission No. 200. In addition to the usual briefing, the crews were briefed to come back to the field in formation. The low squadron was instructed to do a 360 degree turn and come in for a peel off. The Group Leader was to begin the peel off at the upwind end of the runway.

The primary target was the marshalling yards at Bohien. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Captain Dozier as Air Commander. The Group assembled in Wing formation without difficulty.

Because of weather, Chemnitz, an important industrial city, was attacked. Bombs were dropped from 25,000 feet. Results were obscured by clouds.

Flak was light and no craft sustained damage. Upon return to the Base, the Group received an enthusiastic welcome. On hand were the Chief of Staff of the 1st Air Division General Bartlett Beaman, and the Commander of the 94th Combat Bombardment Wing, General Julius K. Lacey. The official press release in part, commented on the record of the 457th Group, and stated:

"The Fireball Group sel up a distinguished record by leading the Eighth Air Force in bombing results during the last five months of 1944."

The release pointed out the Group had participated in many notable assaults on the Nazi war machine, including the Gdynia mission, the invasion assault on D-Day, and as an example of the high degree of accuracy in high altitude bombing achieved by the Group, cited the destruction on 13 January, of the Maximiliansau Bridge on the Rhine River. Emphasis was placed on the splendid teamwork and efforts of the ground and combat crews, and noted that the 457th Bombardment Group was a highly efficient and smooth running organization.

CREW LOADING LIST

March 2nd, 1945
Mission No 200 Target: Chemnitz, 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 # 537		A/C # 211		A/C # 934		A/C # 024
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Elmer E. Witten John K. Wales George R. Nichols John D. Williams Francis G. Mauro Walter H. Kleinfelter John T. Sullivant William A. Gearhart Floyd A. Monroe Robert R. Tangney	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John W. Cantillon Thomas A. Hyde Arthur D. Robioilo Robert B. Ryan Jesse J. DeBoard Donald A. Priestley Charles E. DeCorte William Bodayle Lloyd R. Burke	Lt Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Henry S. Blach Harold R. Hall Leslie J. Tesdall Glyn R. Aleshire Edward V. Maculaitis Samuel J. Williams William S. Biggie Wendell H. Perry Charles E. Sizemore	Capt Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles C. Schobert William C. Girard Jame E. Tolbert Myron E. Francisco Albert W. Merritt Fayette Dennison, Jr William E. Wilson James F. Casey Raymond J. Helble Harry C. Thortsen

	A/C # 785		A/C # 200		A/C # 105		A/C # 287
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George H. Greer Thomas J. Cronin Edward J. Strzyzewski Archie F. Cole Byrne J. Ranney Walter H. Carter John W. Rockefeller Gerald T. Uzdavinis Edward W. Blycker	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jack E. Wescott Quentin P. Thompson Merrill H. Ross Louis P. DeCinzo Bernard L. Maki Abel J. DeCoux Billy K. Berry James C. Gianacopolis Harold A. Adams	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John R. Godwin Eugene F. Howard Robert F. Kellow Warren W. Nixon Thomas D. McCormick George Kakeh Vincent C. Liguori Paul J. Bernstel George W. King	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert W. Gronberg Paul C. Mason Herman D. Welmer Robert M. McMakin Albert K. Richards Milo G. Hastings Ashmun J. Ripley James L. McGill Kenneth R. Bostick

----------------------------->

	A/C # 072		A/C # 037		A/C # 075		A/C # 521
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ben W. McChesney William C. Manspeaker M. P. Lopez Joseph H. Gubino Albert P. Cristofaro George S. Byoff Charles A. Wilt Robert H. Young Gilbert J. Fleming	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Delmar A. Stanley Parks E. Rea Carl E. Schieffer Leroy R. Ford Roger J. Howell Norman C. Kistler Dale W. Mason Leonard Y. Wendrow John A. Schuck	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Frank R. Guca Clifton R. Smith Melvin K. Stoner Robert F. Olwick Emil T. Pavlus Albert J. Yost Stanley Rutkiewicz Elton A. Clodfelter Charles T. Root	Lt Lt Lt Lt 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

	A/C # 902		A/C # 904		A/C # 652		A/C # 154
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Lester G. Radcliff Andrew G. Anderson David W. Ellis Werner L. Bernau James T. Bell Louis B. Reinhart Lawerence M. Charlesworth William F. Rykert Peter P. Kopas George W. Jackson	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jesse E. Castanias Myrton P. Barry Jack Lorber Stephen T. Cowell Cletus R. Newman William F. Waters Stanley F. Bendzynski Michael Denitti Martin Norsic, Jr	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward C. Foulke George D. McCurry Gordon W. Dykes John J. Kearney Daniel Doherty Ralph Compton Joseph E. Elbers Leonard Lewandowski Hilliard B. Maples	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Worth G. Kirkman James D. Blackmore George N. Blair Gordon W. Witt John P. Cervero Roy F. Christensen Herbert N. Hook Frank J. Eichenlaub Jack N. Gregory

	A/C # 190		A/C # 831		A/C # unknown		A/C # 123
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Marion K. Burk Cecil C. Harris John T. Freese Frederick A. McDuffie Earl R. Kenyon Cliff N. Cunningham Herbert K. Clark Harold E. Buhrow Joe E. Floerke	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Raymond H. Wolf William F. Reynolds Robert W. Hentges Jacob Cohen Thomas J. Hamilton Milton E. Drissler Robert J. Townley Donald E. Polen Dennis G. Schaffner	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harlan Buettner George J. Grau Philip A. DuPont Bernard Weiss Theodore R. Cowsert Anthony S. Giacobbi James R. Westbrook Walter L. Laddusaw Frank Maxwell	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Sherrill R. Williams Earl R. Downey Benjamin J. Bushey Ray G. Wilcox Ralph W. Smith Eugene P. Bussard Harold T. Rahbe Harold d. Crosby Burhard A. Klimoski

	A/C # 203		A/C # 167		A/C # 881		A/C # 582
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Kelly P. Jacobs Donald G. Sellon Albert F. Czarnowsky Robert E. Gee Jacob L. Finnerty George H. Haby, Jr. James T. Means Charles F. Brown James A. Carey	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Kenneth D. Woods Joseph B. Watkins Paul L. Hertenstein Rex A. Stevens Harry E. Graham William H. Goodfellow, Jr Robert Bonazza Benjamin F. Parris Dennis L. Phelps	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James H. Latimer Jack O. McMillen Swen A. Christensen Norman E. Roe John J. Pickett Harold B. Anthony Boris W. Petcoff Harry E. Roeder William E. Wilson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harry G. Bocckino Thomas J. Tredici Robert E. Rodgers Jonathan M. Self Edward C. Lowery Clayton J. Dutcher Windsor J. Deaton Richard F. Lucas Stokely M. Gribble

	A/C # 706		A/C # 594		A/C # 855		A/C # 240
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Capt Capt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Lt	Frederick G. Smithson Edward B. Dozier Alexis P. Umoff James P. Guyot James L. Quarry Kenneth B. Taylor Jay W. Grider Robert W. Pinckney John V. Lawton Nathaniel J. Beam	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert E. Gemmill John C. Moore Merton D. Pittman Frank J. Mauro Bernard V. Ruxzko Harry Miller Walter R. Sprankle Charles G. McCaaffery Eldon L. Sutherland Hilary A. Turley	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Kenneth E. Kentner Jacob Kosman Orion C. Brower Sam Radak Lewis J. Crain Charles R. Haynes Virgil W. Terral Wayne S. Richman Myron S. Spahr	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Donald P. Straus Everett R. Renfro Floyd A. Crispin John B. Rogers Robert L. Olsen John P. Lapicca J. W. Bridges John F. Dunn James O. Hartley

	A/C # 557		A/C # 832		A/C # 080		A/C # 947
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Victor F. Pfendler Douglas J. Sharkey Lawrence D. Rogers Arnold L. Rosenblatt Harry G. Vaal Normand R. Menard Robert W. Edwards Cleotis N. Helm Ralph D. Ice	F/O F/O F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles Scarpaci Francis J. Patry Paul R. Kelly Thomas H. Reed Everett R. Watson Alrfed R. Jones. Floyd R. Lashmit Francis X. Demarzio Jerome Shapiro	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Joseph B. Maguire Robert D. McMorrow Jackson Taylor Harry M. Hughes Houston H. LaCombe Oliver J. Swischer Rudolph W. Schroer Horace K. Richardson Richard J. Kaminski	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William T. Thistle Joseph Taylor Craig K. Winters Roy R. Truba John T. Miller Louis E. Domato Harvey G. Henkel Anthony J. Demaro John H. Taylor

	A/C # 368		A/C # 706		A/C #		A/C # 603
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Capt Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Lon A. McCauley, Jr. Robert C. Quincy Harry J. Campbell Herbert L. Stempler Henry L. Bartnowski Bernard J. Carroll Wilmer G. Boykin Robert A. Storey G. B. Gaster	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	David L. Omelich Erwin L. Persons Donald D. Beck Orrin C. Cederonin John M. Tabak Robert M. Foster Robert L. Foley Franklin D. Stout Benjamin F. Ivey	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles E. Birdseye Patrick H. Wallace Howard W. Demotts Robert F. Nicholson Henry Freidrich Wallace T. Powell Harmon A. Smith Carl A. Johnson David Barclay

	A/C # 101		A/C #		A/C #		A/C # 698
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Pvt Sgt Sgt	Albert B Gross William P. O'Connor Robert J. Jacobson Tommy M. Pruitt James L. Gray Harold P. Hubert Frank E. Humphries Hubert O. Newell William D. Oden	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ejner N. Gunderson August F. Spies John M. Nally A. W. Bell Thomas O. Lowry Lenoir A. Greer Ruben L. Larson Albert L. Mikels Theodroe C. Yates

	A/C # 606		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Duane F. Southwood Lyle E. Keran Wallace Reed Raymond D. VanWagner Warren H. Parmeter Orville D. Clark George N. Radakovich R. B. Kelly Santos V. Maira	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

	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

	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

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