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

March 20th, 1945 Mission to Campo North & South Bridges

Squadron War Diary

486th The Squadron suffered a major loss today when 6B failed to return. The crew of six were some of the best liked men in the outfit. They were:
Lt. Mack, Pilot
Lt. Caniglio, Co-Pilot
S/Sgt. Granger, Bombardier
Sgt. Leonneke, Radio-Gunner
Sgt. Racette, Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. Zawistowski, Tail Gunner

The 488th also lost one plane and we had eight men with minor wounds. Spirits are pretty low tonight.

487th Twelve bombers and three phosphorus ships took off at 08:30 hours this morning to bomb Campo South Railroad bridge and Vipiteno gun positions. Both boxes were within the target area scoring hits on the north end of the bridge. Phosphorus probably hit gun positions, but observations were difficult due to intense flak. Five ships were holed and one crew member, Sgt. Heater, was wounded as a result of the accurate anti-aircraft fire encountered over the target. Needless to say the boys will not request a repeat performance at Campo South.

488th Losses in Action:

1st Lt. John P. Wilkinson
2nd Lt. Robert J. Brown
S/Sgt. Blaine G. Thompson
S/Sgt. Paul M. Zick
S/Sgt. James H. Cardwell
S/Sgt. Richard Miller

2nd Lt. James E. Jacobs
2nd Lt. Hardy D. Narron
1st Lt. George W. Hammond, Jr.
S/Sgt. Jack B. Willingham
S/Sgt. Medard R. Tafoya
S/Sgt. Melvin E. Kelly

489th Not assigned to this mission

Target in 1945

Target Today

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Plane 7A of the 487th Squadron on the Campo Mission

Photo from the collection of Hymie Setzer

Squadron	War Diary
486th	The Squadron suffered a major loss today when 6B failed to return. The crew of six were some of the best liked men in the outfit. They were: Lt. Mack, Pilot Lt. Caniglio, Co-Pilot S/Sgt. Granger, Bombardier Sgt. Leonneke, Radio-Gunner Sgt. Racette, Turret Gunner S/Sgt. Zawistowski, Tail Gunner The 488th also lost one plane and we had eight men with minor wounds. Spirits are pretty low tonight.
487th	Twelve bombers and three phosphorus ships took off at 08:30 hours this morning to bomb Campo South Railroad bridge and Vipiteno gun positions. Both boxes were within the target area scoring hits on the north end of the bridge. Phosphorus probably hit gun positions, but observations were difficult due to intense flak. Five ships were holed and one crew member, Sgt. Heater, was wounded as a result of the accurate anti-aircraft fire encountered over the target. Needless to say the boys will not request a repeat performance at Campo South.
488th	Losses in Action: 1st Lt. John P. Wilkinson 2nd Lt. Robert J. Brown S/Sgt. Blaine G. Thompson S/Sgt. Paul M. Zick S/Sgt. James H. Cardwell S/Sgt. Richard Miller 2nd Lt. James E. Jacobs 2nd Lt. Hardy D. Narron 1st Lt. George W. Hammond, Jr. S/Sgt. Jack B. Willingham S/Sgt. Medard R. Tafoya S/Sgt. Melvin E. Kelly
489th	Not assigned to this mission

Target in 1945

Target Today
View Larger Map
Plane 7A of the 487th Squadron on the Campo Mission
Photo from the collection of Hymie Setzer

Crew Lists and Mission Reports

Crew Lists
None Available

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