Sortie2BDB-24Bombed Primary
“Jitters From Bitters”.Over Koblenz/Mosel.
Mission 647 · 25 September 1944 · Koblenz, Germany
Serial
42-95204
B-24H
Fuselage Code
YM
Squadron
409th
Ted's Traveling Circus
Takeoff
08:51
Hardwick (Sta. 104)
Over Target
12:00
Landing
14:40
Hardwick (Sta. 104)
Duration
5:49
Bombing Altitude
22000
Aboard
10
men
The narrative.
§ This Ship
Sanders's 204-I took off at 08:51, released twelve 500-pound GPs on the PFF lead at 12:00 from 22,000 feet on a heading of 345°, and landed at Hardwick at 14:40. Results were 10/10. Sortie credit was given. The camera-carried box is No, but two minutes after the target they saw about fifteen small boats at the junction of the Mosel and Rhine and took a picture with a K-20. No flak, no enemy fighters, and no battle damage.
The crew.
§ 10 aboard
Name
Position
Serial
Hometown
On this flight

2LtWalter W. Sanders
Pilot
Station 1
O-700550
Arkansas
Returned
→
2LtDonald A. Hastreiter
Co-Pilot
Station 2
O-710933
—
Prisoner of war
Returned
→
2LtRichard Boyd
Navigator
Station 3
—
—
Returned
→
2LtWarren S. Wiesler
Bombardier
Station 4
O-769237
WI
Returned
→
CplFrancis Sanger
Engineer / Top Turret
Station 5
—
—
Returned
→
SgtPaul O. Bergman
Radio Operator
Station 6
—
—
Returned
→
SgtRobert E. Bembenck
Waist Gunner
Station 8
—
—
Returned
→
SgtPaul E. Hartman
Waist Gunner
Station 8
—
—
Returned
→
CplWilliam W. Bonsinger
Nose Gunner
—
—
Returned
→
S/SgtCharles J. Coury
Tail Gunner
Station 9
36566693
Michigan
Returned
→
The load.
§ 6,000 lb aboard
AN-M64
500-pounder
12× 500 lb
TypeGeneral Purpose · TNT/Amatol
Weight6,000 lb
FuzingNose AN-M103 (1/10) · Tail AN-M101A2 (.025)
The flight.
§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Takeoff08:51
Over target12:00
Landing14:40
Time in the air5:49
Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)
Landed atHardwick (Sta. 104)
Bombing altitude22000
The Record
ResultBombed Primary
Sortie creditFull
Counted toward tourYes
Landing dispositionHome base
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Formation
Formation12-ship, four 3-ship elements (T-bar)
Slot, as written4-2
Element4
SeatLeft wing
DescribesOn the bomb run
Flew with409th Squadron
Fuel & Equipment
Camera typeK-20
H2X scope photoNo
The target.
§ As Briefed
Koblenz/MoselMarshalling Yard
LocationKoblenz, Germany