340th Bomb Group History

340th Bombardment Group History

340th BG Patch

340th BG Squadron Insignia
	486th B.S.	487th B.S.	488th B.S.	489th B.S.
	Click on the squadron insignia above for links to digitized squadron histories

February 8, 1945 Mission to Piacenza North Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

486th A late afternoon mission today to Piacenza, a hot target but rendered considerably less effective by dive bombing P-47's and phosphorus carrying B-25's. The group in all probability destroyed the bridge.

487th Piacenza railroad bridge and gun positions were the target for eight bombers of this Squadron. The phosphorus element covered northeast portion of "A" gun positions. Bomb pattern due to poor visibility from smoke of other patterns was hard to observe, but was believed to have hit in the area of southern portion of "wet" span. Heavy, moderate to intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered over the target holing four of the participating bombers. The lead ship had an eighty-eight shell go right through the left wing exploding above the airplane.

488th Twelve planes and three as an anti-flak element bombed Piacenza North rail bridge, Italy. Our bombing accuracy was 94%, and the flak was heavy, moderate and inaccurate to accurate. We had two planes holed.

489th We sent nine aircraft to the Piacenza railroad bridge, Italy. The bridge and probably the approaches leading up to it were well covered.

Target in 1945

Target Today

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Squadron	War Diary
486th	A late afternoon mission today to Piacenza, a hot target but rendered considerably less effective by dive bombing P-47's and phosphorus carrying B-25's. The group in all probability destroyed the bridge.
487th	Piacenza railroad bridge and gun positions were the target for eight bombers of this Squadron. The phosphorus element covered northeast portion of "A" gun positions. Bomb pattern due to poor visibility from smoke of other patterns was hard to observe, but was believed to have hit in the area of southern portion of "wet" span. Heavy, moderate to intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered over the target holing four of the participating bombers. The lead ship had an eighty-eight shell go right through the left wing exploding above the airplane.
488th	Twelve planes and three as an anti-flak element bombed Piacenza North rail bridge, Italy. Our bombing accuracy was 94%, and the flak was heavy, moderate and inaccurate to accurate. We had two planes holed.
489th	We sent nine aircraft to the Piacenza railroad bridge, Italy. The bridge and probably the approaches leading up to it were well covered.

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Crew List 488th

340th BG Squadron Insignia
	486th B.S.	487th B.S.	488th B.S.	489th B.S.
	Click on the squadron insignia above for links to digitized squadron histories