bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

We are a culture association "Dorfleben Buchenau / Lahn e.V." (Located near Marburg in Hessen, Germany). We have been dealing with the fates of the fallen and missing soldiers of the WW2 from our place for nearly 2 years.

For this purpose, many photographs and documents have been given to us by the families and finally we will write a book.

It would be an advantage for us to complete our documentation if we could also have aerial photographs since these are directly related to the war events.

We need further informations and pictures at:
- reconnaissance flights at the beginning of 1945, followed by
the bombing of the village of Dautphe on March 16, 1945 and perhaps
pictures after the march 16.

WGS84
50° 51′ 28″ N, 8° 32′ 35″ E
50.857778°, 8.543056°

UTM
32U 467839 5634109

To our knowledge by the American Air Force. They destroyed a clothes factory, which produced military clothing. The old town center was almost completely destroyed. 52 people died. It is important for us, to know the military association and the aircraft they had used.


From this a chronicle emerges, which is to serve the non-forgetting of the events of the Second World War and the memory. In the village every family was directly or indirectly affected. We will honored our fallen soldiers.
Perhaps you can send us information, pictures or further contact persons.

Best regards
Dirk Sohl and friends.

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Cannot find a direct reference to Dautphe but the USAAF Combat Chronology 1941-45 lists

3/16/45 Ninth AF
280-plus Medium Bombers and Light Bombers hit Landau barracks area and communications centre, Niederscheld town area and rail bridge, 6 other town areas, a M/Y, rail junction, crossroads, and also drop leaflets.
Fighters escort 9th Bomb Division, fly patrols, sweeps, armed recon, and cover VIII, XII, and XX Corps in assault across the Mosel from W of Koblenz and N of Boppard, at one point, as far E as Bad Kreuznach, and as far S as Merzig.

Best guess would be a 9th Air Force Group or Groups flying A-20, B-26 or A-26 was the source of the bombs. But this is only a guess.


Martin

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Martin, I think that is a good guess. It might be hard to find the specific groups that attacked the town. The town may be "included" in the description "6 other town areas, a M/Y, rail junction, crossroads". Many of these attacks were done without the target visible, the groups were led by pathfinder aircraft that were using various blind bombing methods. It is quite possible the town center was hit in error, the target may have been the railroad on the east side of town, for example.

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Good afternoon Dirk !

What was the time of the attack ?

Is it known, what kind of aircraft attacked, a bomber-formation or attacking fighters, which threw bombs ?.

I'm sure, those details may help a lot to find the unit.

Best wishes !

Horst eberW

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Dirk !

The bombing was carried out by 323rd Bomb Group, 9th AF that day. Here exactly Box # I, Flight A, probably Flight B (partly). The primary target was Niedermarsberg railroad Bridge. The target was at the schedueld attack time not visible by clouds and the secondary target Siegen was whilst GEE-fixes too inaccurate to attack. So the bombardier choose to Dautphe and other Targets that day. The reported times of attack are 14:15 - 14:45 hrs.

You'll find the sources on page 1635 of HFHRA reel # B5695 (9th AD 6-3-1945 - 16-3-1945) (same reel). The time over target in this case (14:15 hrs - 15.10 hrs) are on the same reel documented on page 1616 as well.

Your candidate is Box I, 323rd BG, seeking for a target of opportunity.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Thank you so much for your help by our research! Your informations are very helpful for us and I think we can make further researches now. Yesterday I got the informations, that the time of bombing were approximately 02.45 pm.
Best wishes from ebsdorfergrund, sincerely yours, Dirk and friends.

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

Your'e welcome !

Re: bombing of Dautphe 16 march 1945
 

An additional reference:



Peter Schneider: Wolkenlücke brachte den Tod – 16. März 1945: Luftangriff auf Dautphe. In: Hinterländer Geschichtsblätter. Biedenkopf, 87. Jahrgang, Nr. 1, März 2008