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 24, 1945 Mission to Pizzighettone Railroad Bridge

Squadron War Diary

486th Not assigned to this mission

487th Bressanone railroad bridge was the primary target this morning, but was not bombed due to cloud coverage consequently the phosphorus element returned all bombs. However, the twelve ship bomber formation proceeded on to the alternate, Adda Pizzighettone railroad bridge. A premature radio release signal caused the wing ships to drop first and a general mix-up in the bombing. No claims to bombing accuracy were made following this raid. Lt. Ware was slightly wounded and two ships were holed as a result of the anti-aircraft fire.

488th Third time in a row that the target was Bressanone rail bridge, Italy, but due to solid undercast around the primary target was not bombed, and the first alternate was also covered with clouds so that the second alternate, Pizzighettone rail bridge, Italy was bombed -- or rather bombs were dropped around it. We got a snappy 22% bombing accuracy.

489th Not assigned to this mission

Target in 1945

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Squadron	War Diary
486th	Not assigned to this mission
487th	Bressanone railroad bridge was the primary target this morning, but was not bombed due to cloud coverage consequently the phosphorus element returned all bombs. However, the twelve ship bomber formation proceeded on to the alternate, Adda Pizzighettone railroad bridge. A premature radio release signal caused the wing ships to drop first and a general mix-up in the bombing. No claims to bombing accuracy were made following this raid. Lt. Ware was slightly wounded and two ships were holed as a result of the anti-aircraft fire.
488th	Third time in a row that the target was Bressanone rail bridge, Italy, but due to solid undercast around the primary target was not bombed, and the first alternate was also covered with clouds so that the second alternate, Pizzighettone rail bridge, Italy was bombed -- or rather bombs were dropped around it. We got a snappy 22% bombing accuracy.
489th	Not assigned to this mission

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