Mission No 214

MISSION NO. 214
HOPSTEN-ACHMER, GERMANY

21 MARCH, 1945

The airfield at Hopsten-Achmer was the primary target. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Colonel Romig of Wing serving as Air Commander of the Wing, and of the Division.

Combat Wing was formed without difficulty and the 457th was on time, on course and in proper position in Division formation. Division assembly line was flown approximately as briefed. Route to the IP was flown on time and on course. The target area was clear and it was decided to make a run on the primary target. Squadrons took interval and prepared for a visual run.

A run was begun on the primary target (Hopsten Airfield), but dense, persistent contrails obscured the target and bombs were not released. Low and high squadrons followed the leader and did not release their bombs at this time.

The Group then proceeded to the secondary target, but contrails again obscured the target. The low squadron, however, was able to make a visual run on this target. The aiming point was changed to the intersection of the runways.

Just before the run on the secondary target, the high squadron lead was hit by antiaircraft fire and it was necessary to turn the lead over to the deputy. The lead and high squadrons then executed a wide 360 degree turn, selected a new IP, and proceeded to make a second run on the primary target. High squadron deputy, Lt. Craig P. Greason, was hit near No. 4 engine by antiaircraft fire, caught fire and dropped out of formation.

The high squadron leader then reassumed the lead, though the airplane was crippled and it was necessary to release bombs on those of the Group's lead squadron. The lead and low squadrons experienced some difficulty with AFCE. The lead and high squadrons let down to 2,000 feet below briefed altitude to avoid contrails on the second run.

Bomb results were observed to be fair for the low squadron, and good for the lead and high squadrons. In addition to the plane lost, nine others sustained damage. Lt. Greason's crew were taken as prisoners of war.

CREW LOADING LIST

March 21st, 1945
Mission No 214 Target: Hopsten-Achmer, Germany

If you desire to see the original scanned loading lists, click on the respective blue squadron header below.
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748th Squadron

749th Squadron

750th Squadron

751th Squadron

	A/C # 167		A/C # 557		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	John C. Lindholm George K. Parker Albert D. Barr Ted D Panneatos Abraham Choc Daniel Friedman Robert L. Schaaf Baron E. Miller Edwin Levine	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Russel A. Nowling Edward M.l Monesterio Elmer L. Mankin Dale F. Baldwin Stephen Skulec John M. Handler William M. Stell Allison J. Gunn James L. Quarry	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James R. Holden Vaden S. Pitts John S. LeVar Hollis D. Huddleston Leo J. Kleinpeter Leo I. McCombs Paul A. Esvanko Bertram G. Johnson Jackson R. Campbell James R. Day	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Noel K. Robinson Donald D. Nielsen William A. Moore Gordon L. Witt Preston C. Grimm James Q. Woodard Bernard P. Wrobleski Mario D. Terenzio Warren S. Swain

	A/C # 506		A/C # 113 LOST		A/C # 211		A/C # 603
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt 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 Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Craig P. Greason Ralph L. Gray Rudolph Haumann Thomas E. Madigan Garland L. Frost Ralph S. Ingraham William N. Wagner Blair Arsenault, Jr Kenneth L. Haseltine	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Joseph B. McGuire, Jr Robert D. McMorrow Jackson Taylor Glyn E. Aleshire Richard J. Kamanski Oliver J. Swisher Jarry M. Hughes Houston H. LaCombe Rudolph W. Schroer, Jr	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward J. Clark Harry R. Horn Charles F. Gavin Jr Harley E. Barrett Glenn S. Gruver George E. Dainty Gene R. Foss Frederick C. Rex George N. Pollock

	A/C # 698		A/C # 832		A/C # 765		A/C # 240
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George H. Greer Thomas J. Cronin Edward J. Strzyzewski Walter H. Carter Archie F. Cole Byrne J. Ranney John W. Rockefeller Gerald T. Uzdavinis Edward W. Blycker	Lt F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Wendell C. Tague Jack S. Eshe Francis G. Spillane Archie C. Strahan George A. Taylor Frank J. Pekar Ivan L. Mathews, Jr. George T. Zielinski Simon Pomerantz Robert F. Otterpahl	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Kent H. Brittle Arthur E. Anderson, Jr George Crofford, Jr Joseph J. Gurtis Richard A. Dodds Julius O. Beltzer Charles E. Gallagher Gerald W. Hungate Robert T. Kincaid	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George H. Bane Donn W. Leedham Girvan Peck Warren L. Holbrook John G. Mackie Frank Nowankowski William H. Stern Walter H. Westels Chester C. Urbanik

	A/C # 072		A/C # 733		A/C # 796		A/C # 433
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ben W. McChesney William C. Manspeaker Eldon E. Smith William M. Thacker Joseph H. Gubino Albert P. Cristofaro Charles A. Wilt Charles F. Brown Gilbert J. Fleming	Lt Lt Lt F/O 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. Southerland	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James M. Graves Thomas W. Prior Arvo J. Kajander Ralph B. Julian William R. Biggie Anthony R. Giacobbi James G. Ransdell Joseph A. Skiers Jay S. Harrison	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Sherrill R. Williams Earl R. Downey Benjamin J. Bushey Frank J. Eichenlaub Ralph W. Smith Eugene P. Bussard Harold T. Rahbe Adrian W. Pennington Burhard A. Klimoski

	A/C # 537		A/C # 534		A/C # 934		A/C # 947
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Thomas P. Thompson Murry V. Jett Arnold L. Rosenblatt Walter H. Kleinfelter Daniel W. Nose James L. Bass John V. Lawton Bennie W. Johnson Walter C. Nowak	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Raymond H. Wolf William F. Reynolds Robert W. Hentges Jacob Cohen Edward L. Kane Milton E. Drissler Robert J. Townley Donald E. Polen Dennis G. Schaffner	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ralph W. Coons Kenneth Blakebrough Jennings B. Beran Stephen Cokoroginis George F. Peschen Joseph D. Crescio Conrad E. Craig Robert D. Whiteaker Woodrow W. Tatman	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Donald E. Miller Edward R. Renfro Richard E. Anderson Pete A. Antonella Charles Calcaterra Ebart D. Conger Frank P. Trom Walter F. Willig Kenneth L. Bostick

	A/C # 606		A/C # 706		A/C # 195		A/C # 749
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George L. Hottle, Jr Emile N. Racine David W. Ellis Wilbert M. Saylor Roger R. Holden James T. Bell, Jr Donald F. Boyd Francis C. Cupp William J. Dufford	Lt f/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Kenneth D. Woods Joseph B. Watkins George B. Whipple Rex A. Stevens Harry E. Graham Horace M. Seyster Robert Bonazza Benjamin F. Parris Dennis L. Phelps Nubar A. Astor	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John P. Starnes Lawrence D. Wilde Erwin Salnick Robert F. Altmaier Victor C. Johanson Frank D. Russo Louis A. Qualls John Simmen James Valenti Robert P. Kimmel	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Homer P. Mallory Howard T. Hampton James C. Strachan Joseph Kirwan Joe T. Clary Harry D. Holp Willard R. Hedge Robert F. Forgit Lois H. Pena

	A/C # 826		A/C # 200		A/C # 587		A/C # 827
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Benny J. Bigley Thomas E. Brines Rudolph G. Warner III Charles P. Keith James W. Ford Delbert S. Schwab Floyd N. Henderson Jr. Robert E. Hall Leo B. Lawler	Lt Lt F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Norman L. Stevens Donald R. Sweetman Everett Stainaker Kenneth R. Wall Harold E. Graham Wallace H. Davis Danny R. Taylor William Greenberg Dewey L. Smith Jr.	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James H. Latimer Jack O. McMillen Swen A. Christensen Norman Roe John J. Pickett Harold B. Anthony Boris W. Petcoff Harry R. Roeder Ramsey E. Hale	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ejner N. Gunderson August F. Spies John F. Owin Charles R. Ward Thomas O. Lowry Lenoir A. Greer Thomas O. Lowry Albert L. Mikels Frederick J. Moynihan

	A/C # 190		A/C # 081		A/C # 854		A/C # 707
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Paul W. Duckert Max E. Felder Ralph H. Hall Thomas E. Smith John W. Lewis Keith E. Shinauld Alfred F. Waichunas Walter J. Basara William A. Peltoma	F/O F/O F/O F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles Scarpaci Francis J. Patry Paul R. Kelly Thomas H. Reed Everett R. Watson Alfred R. Jones. Floyd R. Lashmit Francis X. Demarzio Jerome Shapiro	Lt Lt Lt Lt 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 F/) Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Vernon L. Terrill Lawrende L. Jackson Richard E. Beck Edward F. Wilson Charles L. Rockwell Edward J. Celani Frank Alderete III Delbert L. Bellinger Charles R. Ward

	A/C # 785		A/C #		A/C # 791		A/C # 755
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Capt Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Victor F. Pfendler Wade W. Knudson Donald E. Sherman Paul F. Lumbya Herbert L. Stempler Vaughn D. Heidenreich Normand R. Menard Robert W. Edwards Cleotis N. Helm Ralph D. Ice	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Orviole L. Smiley Delbert D. Swartz Thomas L. McGovern Jr. George W. Thompson Edgar L. Seal William M. Whigham Norman R. Shoemaker John K. Bryan James E. Kilgore	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James R. Howell Kenneth L. Anderson Robert D. Beltz John S. King Sheldon J. Robbin Mathew F. Patulski James R. Howard Thomas D. McCormick Hiram E. Morrow Lee R. Gorman	Lt Col Lt Capt Capt Capt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William B. Dudley Eugene A. Romig Duane S. Carr Francis J. Pitelka Alesis P. Umoff Oscar B. Stauff Marshall H. Glover Martin O. Olson William J. Banghart Elmer E. Campbell

	A/C #		A/C # 087		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 F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Albert Martin Norman F. Zoltowski William H. Herron William D. Bowles Richard P. Barnes Martin Jacobs Paul L. Cardwell Hubert S. Johnson Harold Stege	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

	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